Bracco Unit Monopolizes Medical Barium, Suit Says (Corrected)

A Bracco Group unit was sued in Missouri federal court Nov. 26 over its alleged scheme to game the FDA approval process to help it maintain its U.S. monopoly on barium sulfate products used as contrast dyes in medical imaging.

Bracco Diagnostics Inc., a subsidiary of the Italian health care multinational, enjoyed a six-year total monopoly on barium sulfate suspension products, which come as smoothies, tablets, and in other ingestable forms, according to the complaint.

Bracco gained its 100% monopoly when nonparty Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals exited the U.S. market in 2009, according to the suit. It was filed in the U.S. ...