STAT+: Will the FTC challenge a deal that would give Novo Nordisk control of some Catalent plants?

As the Federal Trade Commission scrutinizes the pharmaceutical industry, there is growing debate about whether the regulator may next target a deal that some experts say could make it easier for Novo Nordisk to boost production of a key drug — at the expense of competitors.

At issue is a complicated transaction sparked by sporadic shortages of one of the world’s hottest-selling medications — the weight loss treatment Wegovy. The deal is designed to solve what has been a critical and seemingly intractable problem for the company, but it is also raising questions about fair play and the longer-term effect on consumers.

Here’s why: Last February, Novo Holdings, the investment arm of Novo Nordisk’s parent foundation, agreed to pay $16.5 billion for Catalent, one of the world’s largest so-called contract development and manufacturing organizations. These companies play a crucial, behind-the-scenes role helping drugmakers clear complex production and regulatory hurdles before their medicines reach the marketplace.

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