Request for a preliminary ruling from the Bundesgerichtshof (Germany) lodged on 25 September 2023 – Cassella-med GmbH & Co. KG, MCM Klosterfrau Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH v Verband Sozialer Wettbewerb e.V.

(Case C-589/23, Cassella-med and MCM Klosterfrau)

Language of the case: German

Referring court

Bundesgerichtshof

Parties to the main proceedings

Defendants and appellants in the appeal on a point of law: Cassella-med GmbH & Co. KG, MCM Klosterfrau Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH

Applicant and respondent in the appeal on a point of law: Verband Sozialer Wettbewerb e.V.

Question referred

Is there a pharmacological action within the meaning of the first case in Article 1(2)(b) of Directive 2001/83/EC ¹ where the substance in question (in this case: D-mannose), by means of a reversible binding to bacteria via hydrogen bonds, prevents the bacteria from adhering to human cells (in this case: the bladder wall)?

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¹ Directive 2001/83/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 November 2001 on the Community code relating to medicinal products for human use (OJ 2001 L 311, p. 67).