Pharma Industry Ramps Up Legal Fight of State Drug Discount Laws

Pharmaceutical industry giants are ramping up a fight against state laws that require them to distribute discounted drugs to an unlimited number of pharmacies, piling up lawsuits that are now pending across the US.

Drugmakers Novartis AG, AstraZeneca PLC, AbbVie Inc., and trade group Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America have filed a combined 23 lawsuits against eight recently enacted state laws that prohibit the companies from restricting the supply of discounted drugs to certain pharmacies under the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program.

Manufacturers under the program are required to discount drugs to qualifying health providers, known ...