NY Health Groups Sue Boehringer Ingelheim Over Inhaler Patents

A class action brought by New York health and welfare funds is challenging Boehringer Ingelheim, alleging it engaged in unlawful practices when it listed its inhaler patents in the FDA’s Orange Book.

The complaint filed Monday in the US District Court for the District of Connecticut by the 1199SEIU National Benefit Fund, Greater New York Benefit Fund, National Benefit Fund for Home Care Workers, and Licensed Practical Nurses Welfare Fund seeks injunctive relief on behalf of themselves and others who the lawsuit alleges paid for Boehringer’s Combivent Respimat and Spiriva Respimat “at monopoly prices” long after the drugmaker’s patents expired ...