Catalent, a leading contract drug manufacturer, issued an open letter Monday to reassure customers that a proposed $16.5 billion deal will not raise competitive concerns.

U.S. consumer groups and two large labor unions urged the U.S. Federal Trade Commission on Thursday to block Novo Holdings, the controlling shareholder of Novo Nordisk , from acquiring contract drug manufacturer Catalent ,

Novo Holdings is encountering more resistance as it aims to close its $16.5 billion acquisition of pharma manufacturing giant Catalent by the end of the year. | A dozen consumer groups and trade unions penned a letter to Lina Khan,

The coalition said in a letter sent to the FTC Thursday that the deal could reduce access to GLP-1s, and harm competition in development of cell and gene therapies.

Financial groups and labor unions urge FTC to block Nordisk Foundation's acquisition of Catalent, citing concerns about competition and gene