Economics
Generic Drug Accords Face Review by U.S. Supreme Court
This article is for subscribers only.
A multibillion-dollar fight between the drug industry and antitrust enforcers is poised to get U.S. Supreme Court review in a case that may determine how quickly low-price generic medicines reach the market.
The justices will say as early as today whether they’ll scrutinize “pay for delay” agreements that the Federal Trade Commission says cost customers $3.5 billion each year. Under the accords, brand-name drugmakers pay other companies to hold off selling generic versions. The pharmaceutical industry says the accords are legitimate settlements of patent disputes.