Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
35 States Sue Opioid-Maker Over Its Alleged Tactics For Keeping Generic Version Off Market
Reuters: U.S. States Sue Opioid-Maker Indivior, Alleging Anticompetitive Practices
Thirty-five U.S. states and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit on Thursday against opioid drug maker Indivior alleging it tried to keep generic versions of a drug off the market. The British company, which was spun off from Reckitt Benckiser in 2014, is the maker of Suboxone, a drug used to treat patients addicted to heroin and other painkillers. (Lynch, 9/23)
Minnesota Public Radio News: Minn. AG Sues Drug Companies Over Opioid Treatment
Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson joined 35 other state attorneys on Thursday in filing a lawsuit in U. S. District Court against the makers of Suboxone, which is used to minimize opioid withdrawal symptoms. The lawsuit alleges that the drug's manufacturer, Indivior PLC, unlawfully extended its patent on the drug to prevent competition from generic drugs. Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson said that the company used a technique called "product hopping," which is illegal under state and federal antitrust laws. (Collins, 9/22)
The Star Tribune: Lori Swanson Sues To Expand Access To Opioid Addiction Treatment Drug
Seeking to expand access to one of the few drug treatments for opioid addiction, Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson took several steps Thursday to increase production of the drug, reduce prices and remove insurance barriers. Joining attorneys general from 34 other states, Swanson sued Indivior, a Virginia-based drug manufacturer, to halt practices that have prevented the development of a generic version of its drug Suboxone. (Olson, 9/22)
