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ARTICLE · 14 OCTOBER 2025

Belgian Competition Authority Issues Guidance On Information Exchange Between Pharmaceutical Companies For Combination Therapies

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On 10 September 2025, the Belgian Competition Authority (the BCA) published a communication clarifying the conditions under which pharmaceutical companies may exchange information...

BelgiumAntitrust/Competition Law
Nele De Backer
Nele De Backer
Marie Barani
Marie Barani
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On 10 September 2025, the Belgian Competition Authority (the BCA) published a communication clarifying the conditions under which pharmaceutical companies may exchange information specifically in the context of reimbursement applications for combination therapies in Belgium. This guidance responds to a request from the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (the NIHDI), which is contemplating to introduce a dedicated reimbursement procedure for combination therapies. The BCA's communication aims to facilitate access to innovative treatments for patients, while ensuring compliance with competition law.

Background

Combination therapies involve the use of two or more distinct medicines, often developed by different pharmaceutical companies. They typically pair a foundational or "backbone" medicine, already authorised and reimbursed as a monotherapy for a specific therapeutic indication, with an "add-on" product, developed either for use as a

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