The EU is set to rule on Novo Nordisk's (NVO.US) acquisition of Catalent (CTLT.US) by December 6
1min read According to a document published on the European Commission's website on Monday, the EU antitrust regulator will decide by December 6 whether to approve Novo Nordisk's (NVO.US) acquisition of Catalent (CTLT.US), a US contract drug manufacturer.
The document showed Novo Nordisk's controlling shareholder filed a request for approval of the deal on October 31.
The EU antitrust regulator can approve the deal with or without remedies or launch a four-month in-depth investigation if there are serious concerns.
The acquisition, announced in February, highlights Novo Nordisk's efforts to boost production of its blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy.
Novo Nordisk and Catalent recently reiterated their expectations that the deal would be completed by the end of this year.
Drug giant Roche has called on regulators to block the deal, fearing it could stifle competition in the booming weight-loss drug industry. Novo Nordisk's main rival in the obesity and diabetes drugs market, Eli Lilly (LLY.US), has also expressed concerns.
The deal has also been criticised by US consumer groups, who last month urged the US Federal Trade Commission to block the deal, saying it threatened competition in the weight-loss drug industry.
