Washington, D.C. — In response to news that Judge Edgar Ramos has ruled in favor of the Federal Trade Commission in its suit against $40 billion medical data firm IQVIA’s acquisition of DeepIntent, an advertising technology corporation, the American Economic Liberties Project released the following statement. IQVIA, started by Arthur Sackler, has purchased four different corporations in the online advertising market since 2019.

“IQVIA was trying to monopolize the ability to advertise drugs to doctors, just as Google rolled up the general advertising market fifteen years ago,” said Matt Stoller, Director of Research at the American Economic Liberties Project. “This time, however, the Federal Trade Commission stepped in with an innovative set of legal arguments to stop them, and a judge agreed.”

“Americans have a right to a fair society, and it is actions like these that will make that happen,” Stoller added. “Congratulations to the Federal Trade Commission and all Americans for this victory over the forces of monopoly power.”

“We don’t know what the judge’s opinion says yet, but hopefully it is an indication that judges are learning how to apply our antitrust laws to digital markets.”

Learn more about the IQVIA case here.

Learn more about Economic Liberties here.

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The American Economic Liberties Project works to ensure America’s system of commerce is structured to advance, rather than undermine, economic liberty, fair commerce, and a secure, inclusive democracy. Economic Liberties believes true economic liberty means entrepreneurs and businesses large and small succeed on the merits of their ideas and hard work; commerce empowers consumers, workers, farmers, and engineers instead of subjecting them to discrimination and abuse from financiers and monopolists; foreign trade arrangements support domestic security and democracy; and wealth is broadly distributed to support equitable political power.