Allergan faces new allegations of antitrust violations related to its dry-eye treatment Restasis.
Reuters reports that the company is being sued in federal court by Kroger Co., HEB Grocery Co., Walgreen Co. and Albertsons Cos. The plaintiffs each run their own retail pharmacies, Fierce Pharma reports.
The companies claim that Allergan used illegal strategies to prevent generic competition for Restasis. That allegedly included making “material misrepresentations,” Fierce Pharma reports, quote lawsuit documents.
The plaintiffs claim that if Allergan hadn’t engaged in the illegal conduct, generic alternatives would have been available in the U.S. as of May 2014, Reuters reports.
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Reuters reports that Allergan officials “did not immediately respond to requests for comment” on the new litigation, which was filed in federal court in New York.
Allergan has faced other legal challenges related to Restasis.
A lawsuit filed last year by Shire Plc claimed that Allergan plc committed antitrust violations with the goal of maintaining Restasis’ position in Medicare prescription drug plans. Allergan sought to prevent the Shire drug Xiidra from getting a foothold in that market, according to the suit.
Read more at Reuters
