Amgen, Lilly Sue HHS Over Clinics in Drug Discount Program

Pharmaceutical giants are seeking to block a federal health agency’s certification and recertification of clinics treating sexually transmitted diseases to receive steeply discounted medicines under a federal drug discount program.

Amgen Inc., Eli Lilly & Co., and UCB Inc. are challenging approvals from the US Department of Health and Human Services that allow certain clinics to obtain discounted drugs from manufacturers under the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program, according to a complaint filed Dec. 20 in the US District Court for the District of Columbia.

The 340B program allows covered entities such as qualifying safety-net hospitals, clinics, and ...