AbbVie Brings New Suits Against State Pharmacy Contract Laws

Pharmaceutical giant AbbVie issued a new slate of challenges this week against states with laws requiring drugmakers to offer discounted medications to an unlimited number of contract pharmacies.

The four lawsuits filed this week by Kirkland & Ellis in federal district courts in Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Utah allege that all four states have laws that violate the drugmakers’ constitutional rights.

Under the federal 340B program, drugmakers are required to discount drugs for covered entities, such as qualifying hospitals, clinics, and providers, that treat a disproportionate number of low-income and uninsured patients. States have taken ...