Drug Middlemen Lose Bid to Block FTC Case on Insulin Cost (1)

A federal judge in Missouri rejected three major pharmacy benefit managers’ push to pause the Federal Trade Commission’s in-house case against them over rising insulin costs.

Units of CVS Health Corp., Cigna Group, and UnitedHealth Group Inc. had moved for a preliminary injunction, claiming the FTC’s administrative proceedings run afoul of the Constitution. But their arguments largely collided with legal precedent the US District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri is bound by, according to a Tuesday opinion.

“The court does not find issuing a preliminary injunction is appropriate,” Judge Matthew T. Schelp wrote. “The court ...