ABA Antitrust Law Section

[ABA Antitrust Daily Digest January 22, 2026]

UnitedHealth, CVS Fend Off Antitrust Lawsuit Over Drug Costs

(Bloomberg Law) A federal judge in the Western District of Missouri dismissed a proposed class action alleging CVS Health, Evernorth Health, and UnitedHealth Group colluded to inflate prescription drug prices via their PBMs and owned pharmacies, finding the companies’ similar practices—such as forming overseas GPOs at different times—were not sufficiently parallel to support an antitrust conspiracy. The court also held the plaintiffs lacked standing under the Robinson-Patman Act, underscoring the broader difficulties plaintiffs face in challenging vertically integrated health-care firms’ control over drug pricing and access.

https://news.bloomberglaw.com/health-law-and-business/unitedhealth-cvs-fend-off-antitrust-lawsuit-over-drug-costs

CVS Health May Have Violated Antitrust Laws, Republican Lawmakers Say

(Bloomberg) Republican lawmakers accused CVS Health of potentially violating antitrust laws by discouraging independent pharmacies from partnering with third-party competitors. The allegation comes amid growing bipartisan scrutiny of vertically integrated health conglomerates like CVS—which spans insurance, retail pharmacies, and PBMs—with CVS and other insurer CEOs set to testify at a congressional hearing on Thursday.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-21/cvs-health-may-have-violated-antitrust-laws-republican-lawmakers-say?embedded-checkout=true

Apple asks Indian court to stop antitrust body from seeking its financials

(Reuters) Apple has asked the Delhi High Court to halt the Competition Commission of India’s probe and block demands for its global financial records while it challenges the validity of India’s 2024 penalty rules, which it says could expose it to fines of up to $38 billion. The CCI, which accuses Apple of abusing its app store dominance and has defended the penalty framework, pressed ahead with a December 31 order seeking financials; the court is set to hear the matter on January 27.

https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/apple-asks-indian-court-stop-antitrust-body-seeking-its-financials-2026-01-22/

Apple asks Indian court to stop antitrust body from seeking its financials Apple has asked an Indian court to stop the country's antitrust watchdog from seeking its global financial records as part of an investigation into its app store policies, while it challenges the underlying law's validity, court papers show.

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Highlights: Register by today, January 21! Diverse Perspectives: Antitrust in a Changing World (https://bit.ly/46Huik6), Mentors Still Needed for the Section Mentoring Program! (https://lnkd.in/gWAAQrHZ), Apply by February 6: Pitofsky & Saferstein Writing Competition (https://lnkd.in/g_SrgZG7), Apply by February 27: Hollis Salzman Memorial Scholarship (https://lnkd.in/gVnmF9sU), new committee articles, OCA podcast episode, & more!

[ABA Antitrust Daily Digest January 15, 2026]

French watchdog raids auditing firms as part of antitrust probe

(Reuters) France’s Autorité de la Concurrence conducted unannounced raids on several auditing and financial reporting firms as part of an antitrust probe, with La Lettre reporting that Deloitte, KPMG, EY, and PwC were among those targeted. The watchdog, which has not officially named any companies and emphasized that the investigation does not imply guilt, said the firms are suspected of anti-competitive behavior, while Deloitte declined to comment and others did not immediately respond.

https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/french-watchdog-raids-auditing-firms-part-antitrust-probe-2026-01-14/

Trip.com shares plunge almost 20% as China opens antitrust probe into Asia’s largest online travel firm

(CNBC) Trip.com shares tumbled 19.23% in Hong Kong—its worst day since its 2021 listing—after China’s market regulator opened an antitrust probe into suspected abuse of dominance, following a 17% drop in New York the previous day. The company said it will cooperate as analysts warned of a potential hefty fine akin to past Alibaba and Meituan cases amid allegations of forcing merchants into exclusivity and hiking commissions, with the probe unfolding against a backdrop of rising Chinese tourism demand ahead of the Lunar New Year.

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/15/tripcom-shares-plunge-as-china-opens-antitrust-probe-into-company.html

India warns Apple it will proceed with antitrust case after company plays for time

(Reuters) India’s Competition Commission has issued a final warning that it will proceed unilaterally with its antitrust case against Apple next week if the company does not submit overdue objections and financial data, after rejecting Apple’s bid to pause the case during its separate court challenge to penalty rules. Apple, which denies abusing its App Store position and fears fines up to $38 billion if based on global turnover, has not responded and may await a January 27 court hearing, following investigators’ earlier finding of abusive conduct in the iOS app market after complaints by Match and Indian startups.

https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/india-warns-apple-it-will-proceed-with-antitrust-case-after-company-plays-time-2026-01-15/

India warns Apple it will proceed with antitrust case after company plays for time India has issued a final warning to Apple that it will proceed in an antitrust case against the U.S. tech giant as the company has delayed responses to officials for over a year and undermined the investigation, a confidential order shows.