06/10/2011 (Agence Europe) - Joint venture Galenica/Fresenius. On Thursday 6 October, the European Commission authorised the creation of a joint venture in the human health sector between the Swiss pharmaceutical company, Galenica, and Fresenius of Germany (dialysis treatment in clinics, hospital management, etc). The new entity will supply intravenous iron preparations manufactured by Galenica and used by Fresenius in its clinics for providing dialysis treatment to patients with chronic kidney disease. The Commission concluded that the vertical link between the joint venture's activities on the market for iron preparations and Fresenius' activities on the market for dialysis services would not prevent competitors on either of those markets from being able to find sufficient customers and suppliers respectively. The transaction was notified to the Commission on 31 August this year. (FG/transl.jl)