Peters & Peters are pleased to confirm that they have been appointed to the Department of Health’s panel for civil litigation and arbitration in medicines and pharmaceuticals (CLAMP). The panel has been established to provide advice to the Department about possible claims against pharmaceutical companies for breaches of competition law and other damages claims, and to represent the Department in pursuing such claims. The bid was led by partners Jonathan Tickner and Jason Woodland.

Partner, Jonathan Tickner, commented:

 “We are delighted to have been successful in our tender to be appointed to this panel. We have a long history in acting for the Department of Health in pursuing these types of claims and a successful track record in recovering damages for the NHS. We look forward to continuing this important work with the Department.”

Peters & Peters have been instructed by the Department for 20 years in relation to a number of different matters. The most recent case is the Department’s claim against the French pharmaceutical group Servier for £250 million in connection with the medicine perindopril, which is used to treat high blood pressure. The Department alleges that Servier paid potential competitors to stay out of the market and abused the patent system in order to maintain its market position, causing the price of perindopril to remain artificially high.

For further information and coverage of this announcement see:

The Lawyer

Legal Week

The Law Society Gazette