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The Federal Trade Commission is seeking public comment on an application by Cardinal Health, Inc., which is requesting approval to sell former Cardinal Health nuclear pharmacy assets to Patient Care Infusion, LLC. Cardinal’s sale of the assets is required under a 2011 settlement with the FTC, which resolved charges that Cardinal’s acquisition of three nuclear pharmacies from Biotech was anticompetitive.

Nuclear pharmacies provide radiopharmaceuticals to hospitals and cardiology clinics, which use the products to diagnose and treat various diseases. Radiopharmaceuticals contain a radioisotope that is combined with a chemical compound, which is then dispensed to customers in a local area.

The FTC’s 2011 order settling the case requires Cardinal to reconstitute and sell nuclear pharmacies in Las Vegas, Nevada; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and El Paso, Texas. After Cardinal completed the acquisition, it closed its own nuclear pharmacies in each of the cities. According to the application, these assets will be reconstituted through the sale to PCI, which has the capacity and ability to operate the new nuclear pharmacies in the cities in a competitive manner, as required by the FTC order.

The Commission will decide whether to approve the sale after the expiration of the public comment period. Public comments on the application may be submitted until March 26, 2012. Written comments should be sent to: FTC Office of the Secretary, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20580. Comments also can be filed electronically. Copies of the application also can be found on the FTC’s website and as a link to this press release. (FTC File No. 091-0136, Docket No. C-4339; the staff contact is Daniel P. Ducore, Bureau of Competition, 202-326-2526; see press release dated July 21, 2011.)

The FTC’s Bureau of Competition works with the Bureau of Economics to investigate alleged anticompetitive business practices and, when appropriate, recommends that the Commission take law enforcement action. To inform the Bureau about particular business practices, call 202-326-3300, send an e-mail to antitrust@ftc.gov, or write to the Office of Policy and Coordination, Bureau of Competition, Federal Trade Commission, 601 New Jersey Ave., Room 7117, Washington, DC 20580. To learn more about the Bureau of Competition, read Competition Counts. Like the FTC on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

(FYI 8.2012.wpd)