Swiss pharmaceutical group Sandoz on the 28th stated that it has submitted an anti-dumping complaint to the European Union, accusing Chinese imports of the antibiotic amoxicillin raw materials of dumping, involving unfair competition. Amoxicillin belongs to the penicillin class of antibiotics and is commonly used to treat bacterial infections such as pneumonia, gastric ulcers, and streptococcal pharyngitis, making it a very common prescription antibiotic.
According to media reports, Sandoz, one of the world's largest generic drug manufacturers, said it has found "clear signs of market-distorting behavior," including long-term pricing below cost, Chinese government subsidies, and a high concentration of global production capacity in China.
Sandoz pointed out that such support measures make it difficult for European local manufacturers to compete, thereby threatening Europe's production capacity for amoxicillin and penicillin antibiotics. The company also stated that this is the first such anti-dumping case in the pharmaceutical sector in decades.
Sandoz said it still operates Europe's only large-scale, vertically integrated penicillin production network covering upstream and downstream.
Sandoz CEO Richard Saynor said in a statement: "The reality is that currently up to 90% of the world's antibiotic active pharmaceutical ingredients are produced outside Europe, mainly in China. This is a critical strategic vulnerability."
He said: "Current market conditions do not reflect fair competition but systematically disadvantage resilient European producers and put Europe at risk of losing critical antibiotic manufacturing capacity. Ensuring antibiotic supply is not just a public health policy issue; it also involves economic security and strategic trade policy. Europe must act now to safeguard its autonomous supply capacity for the years to come."
