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The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has announced on Tuesday (20 June) that it may consider undertakings offered by Bestway Panacea Holdings, a parent company of Well Pharmacy, which involves divesting seven pharmacy stores under the merger deal with Lexon UK. The Authority said: "CMA considers that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the undertakings offered by Bestway, or a modified version of them, might be accepted by the CMA under the Enterprise Act 2002." Last week, the Authority had announced that the merger of Bestway, and independent pharmacy owner Lexon UK could "lessen the competition between retail pharmacies" in England. On 26th May 2023, CMA announced the launch of its merger inquiry. A fast-track Phase 1 investigation found that the merger could lead to a significant lessening of competition between retail pharmacies in 12 local areas located in Liverpool and North East England. The merging businesses conceded that the deal raises competition concerns in these areas and have submitted proposals to sell pharmacies within these areas to restore the competition that would otherwise be lost as a result of the deal.

The Competition and Markets Authority(CMA) has disqualified a former director of the pharmaceutical wholesaler Lexon for allegedly breaking competition law. Pritesh Sonpal - who has been accused of illegally sharing commercially sensitive information with competitors - will not be allowed to take up any director role or be involved in the management of any company based in England, Scotland or Wales for four years. The CMA in March 2020 found that Lexon - along with the pharmaceutical companies King Pharmaceuticals and Alissa Healthcare Research - illegally shared commercially sensitive information about the antidepressant nortriptyline, used by thousands of NHS patients, to inflate the price. Lexon was fined £1.2 million for breaking competition law. The government watchdog said between 2015 and 2017, when the cost of the drug was falling, the three companies exchanged information about prices, the volumes they were supplying and Alissa's plans to enter the market, in order to reduce competition.

Aspen has committed not to charge more for its six generic cancer drugs for the next 10 years in the UK, according to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The CMA also clarified that "although these commitments were offered while the UK was a part of the European Union" they remain "legally binding". It added: "The CMA has now assisted the NHS to secure binding undertakings from Aspen, under the law of England and Wales, which enshrine the UK elements of the commitments and are enforceable by UK courts, including in relation to the supply of these drugs in Northern Ireland and Scotland." This allows NHS to monitor and ensure compliance by Aspen following the UK's exit from the EU. In 2017, the European Commission began an investigation into Aspen over concerns that the company had engaged in excessive pricing for 6 off-patent cancer medicines.

Following a period of prolonged uncertainty, the Competition and Markets Authority has given its approval to Bestway Healthcare's acquisition of Lexon UK and Asurex. The company expects the transactions to be finalised in the upcoming months. In April, Bestway, the owner of Well Pharmacy, acquired Asurex Limited and Lexon UK Holdings, along with the 44-community pharmacy chain Norchem Group, known as Knights Pharmacy. However, in June, the CMA raised competition-related concerns about the transaction, citing worries that the acquisition could lead to a significant decrease in competition among retail pharmacies across 12 areas in Liverpool and the northeastern region of England. The CMA had asked undertakings from Bestway Healthcare due to competition concerns affecting specific branches of Knights Pharmacy within the acquisition. In July, the CMA indicated its readiness to approve the deal, contingent upon Bestway's completion of the required divestments. According to Bestway Healthcare, This matter has been successfully resolved, as Bestway Healthcare has consented to the sale of seven pharmacies in Liverpool and the northeastern region of England. "The impacted Well pharmacies are situated in Seaham, Bishop Auckland, Kenton, High Howden, Stockton, Moreton, and Pensby. Buyers for all seven branches have been identified and contracts have been signed."