London, April 04, 2005
Ashok Malhtra
NRI, (non-resident Indian) Anil Sharma, formerly
of Ranbaxy (UK) Limited; Ajit Patel and Kirti Patel,
both of Goldshield Group plc. and Norton Healthcare
Limited; Luma Auchi, formerly of Regent-GM Laboratories
Limited (now in liquidation); Michael Sparrow, formerly
of Generics (UK) Limited would be charged, said The
Serious Fraud Office
On Monday, Bow Street magistrates issued summonses
to five companies - Kent Pharmaceuticals Limited;
Norton Healthcare Limited; Generics (UK) Limited;
Ranbaxy (UK) Limited and Goldshield Group plc (formerly
Goldshield Pharmaceuticals (Europe) Limited).
The proceedings followed an investigation into alleged
price-fixing and market- sharing by suppliers of generic
drugs, specifically warfarin and penicillin-based
antibiotics (amoxicillin, ampicillin, flucloxacillin,
phenoxymethylpenicillin). The allegations concerned
pricing and supply of warfarin, the branded drug Marevan
and penicillin-based antibiotics between January 1996
and December 2000.
Assistant director Philip Lewis, the case controller
said, "This important case involving an allegation
of dishonest price-fixing by companies is likely to
have a significant impact upon the business culture
of this country." As April 2002, police raided
six drug companies as part of a probe into an alleged
multimillion-pound scam.
"Goldshield directors said that they did not
act in a way that was unlawful or improper,"
it said. All firms involved have denied any wrongdoing
