10:04 AM EDT, 10/10/2024 (MT Newswires) -- US Senator Elizabeth Warren has asked the US Federal Trade Commission to "carefully scrutinize" the $16.5 billion bid by Novo Nordisk's ( NVO ) parent company for contract drug maker Catalent ( CTLT ) and to block the deal if it's found to be in breach of antitrust rules.

"I am concerned that this deal could increase Novo Nordisk's ( NVO ) dominance over vital GLP-1 inhibitor drugs, reducing competition and increasing prices for patients," Warren said in a letter to FTC Chair Lina Khan.

Warren said that Eli Lilly ( LLY ) -- Novo Nordisk's ( NVO ) largest rival in the market for GLP-1 weight loss and diabetes drugs -- "also contracts with Catalent ( CTLT ) to fill and package its drugs at Catalent ( CTLT ) sites."

"I am concerned that Novo Nordisk's ( NVO ) merger with Catalent ( CTLT ) will give Novo Nordisk ( NVO ) unprecedented visibility into and control over its competitor's production capacity, costs, and business practices, and the ability to preference its own products and obstruct its competitors' use of Catalent ( CTLT ) to produce GLP-1 drugs," Warren said in the letter.

Novo Nordisk ( NVO ) and Catalent ( CTLT ) didn't immediately respond to requests for comment by MT Newswires.

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