The big drugmaker won a big victory in a UK court today. A judge ruled that Pfizer can proceed with an exclusive distribution deal with just one wholesaler, UniChem, starting next week.

The deal had been challenged by the British Association of Pharmaceutical Wholesalers, which complained the arrangement would stymie competition and disrupt round-the-clock service provided by hospitals, dispensing doctors and pharmacies, Reuters reports.

Pfizer has argued its deal will help stamp out counterfeiting, following cases of bogus Lipitor turning up in the UK over the past two years. However, critics say Pfizer’s real aim is to fight parallel trade, a legal practice in Europe in which drugs are imported for resale into the UK from countries in southern Europe, where prices are lower. UK legislators worry about pricing.

A Pfizer spokesman crowed: “The company is confident that its new distribution arrangement is in full compliance with all applicable EU and UK laws, and that it will secure the supply chain.” No word on when Pfizer will try the same thing in other countries.

[tags]Counterfeit, Pfizer, UK[/tags]