US: FTC invigorates pay-for-delay battle

Just days after sources said the European Commission was preparing to issues fines against generic drug makers for anticompetitive practices, reports say authorities in the US are also revamping their efforts against unfair tactics in the pharmaceutical industry.

According to reports, the Federal Trade Commission launched new investigations into pay-for-delay agreements made between drug manufacturers, in the wake of a Supreme Court decision last year that armed antitrust law with the legal ability to fight such pacts.

Pay-for-delay deals allow a brand name drug maker to pay its cheaper, generic rival to keep its competition off the shelf.

With the Supreme Court ruling, the FTC has launched probes into agreements made between generic and brand name companies; according to filings, the regulator is eyeing Forest Laboratories and Endo International.

Reports say the investigations could lead to fines and lawsuits.

Full content: Businessweek

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