to break into the market for mobile games, which is worth more than $90 billion globally. Spencer will oversee the Activision business postmerger, with current CEO Bobby Kotick staying on until the end of 2023. claims was an allegation that Pfizer and Mylan paid Teva Pharmaceutical Industries to delay the launch of a generic version of the device. "Pfizer denies any wrongdoing and continues to believe that its actions were appropriate," said a company spokesperson in a statement. The deal was originally unveiled in January 2022, but faced significant opposition from the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which initially blocked the deal over concerns that the merged company would be able to monopolise the cloud gaming market. The CMA finally approved the deal on the grounds that rights to Activision’s game-streaming services be sold to France’s Ubisoft. The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) continues to pursue its appeal against the deal, but analysts believe In a 10 October filing in federal court in Kansas City, the wholesalers said the settlement was fair and would avoid the risk that the Court of Appeals would uphold an order by US District Judge Daniel Crabtree dismissing their claims. An EpiPen is a handheld device manufactured by Pfizer that treats severe allergic reactions by automatically injecting a dose of epinephrine. A decision by Mylan – which owns the rights to market and distribute the devices – to raise the price of that any impact of the challenge will be minimal. Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer lauded the news on X, formerly known as Twitter, having previously touted the deal as a way for Microsoft a pair of EpiPens to $600 (up from $100 in 2008) was met by public outcry. The product’s wholesalers filed suit against Mylan and Pfizer, accusing both of engaging in anticompetitive conduct that allowed them to maintain a monopoly over the market for the devices. Among the MONTHLY ROUND-UP 7 Following a lengthy battle with regulators, Microsoft closed its $69 billion acquisition of video game giant Activision Blizzard on 13 October, greatly increasing its share of the video game market in the industry’s largest deal to date. Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has agreed to pay $50 million to settle claims by drug wholesalers that they overpaid for EpiPen allergy treatment devices as a result of its anticompetitive tactics. Microsoft Closes $69 Billion Merger Deal with Activision Blizzard Pfizer to Pay $50 Million to Settle EpiPen Antitrust Claims
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