IQVIA under Investigation by Belgian Competition Authority for Suspected Abuse of Dominant Position
On 9 December 2025, the Belgian Competition Authority (BCA) initiated formal proceedings against IQVIA to examine whether the company may have abused a dominant position in Belgium’s pharmaceutical data collection and processing sector.
IQVIA, a global leader in technology and data solutions for the life sciences industry, provides services to pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies to support product development and commercialization. In Belgium, the market for pharmaceutical data is highly concentrated, making it a focal point for regulatory oversight.
Past allegations
The BCA’s investigation is part of a broader pattern of regulatory scrutiny faced by IQVIA and its predecessor IMS Health in various jurisdictions. One of the most significant cases occurred at European level, where the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled in case C‑418/01 that IMS Health’s refusal to license its “brick structure” data format could amount to an abuse of a dominant position under Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). This landmark judgment introduced key principles on access to essential facilities, which remain highly relevant in today’s data-driven markets.
Similar concerns have arisen in France, where in 2024 the Supreme Court examined allegations of abusive practices linked to a partial transfer of assets. The Court ruled that liability rested with the entity managing the business at the time of the abuse, Cegedim, which had previously been fined for refusing to license its OneKey database, confirming that IQVIA, as the subsequent acquirer, was not held responsible.
In the United States, the Federal Trade Commission intervened in 2023 to block IQVIA’s proposed acquisition of Propel Media (DeepIntent), arguing that the transaction would significantly reduce competition in healthcare programmatic advertising. The injunction was granted, and IQVIA ultimately abandoned the deal in early 2024.
Assessment of the BCA
In its preliminary investigation, initiated by a complaint, the BCA assessed the alleged infringement and built its case via requests for information from multiple stakeholders in the sector. Following this assessment, the Prosecutor General found credible indications of potential infringements of Article 102 TFEU and Article IV.2 of the Belgian Code of Economic Law (CEL), both prohibiting abuses of dominance. As a result, and pursuant to Article IV.39, 2° CEL, the BCA decided on 9 December 2025 to open the formal procedure.
The practices under scrutiny relate to contractual arrangements governing the collection and processing of pharmaceutical and healthcare data. This area has been a strategic enforcement priority for the BCA in recent years, given its importance for innovation, pricing transparency and patient access.
The opening of proceedings does not imply any finding of liability. IQVIA will be fully involved in the process and afforded all procedural rights as the investigation progresses.
Source: BCA’s press release of 9 December 2025: 20251209_Press_release_46_BCA.pdf
