Cigna Sues Federal Trade Commission Over ‘Defamatory’ Report

Cigna Group’s Express Scripts sued the US Federal Trade Commission over a recent report that the company said demonizes pharmacy benefit managers and asked the court to order the agency to retract it.

The lawsuit escalates the conflict between drug middlemen and one of the top US antitrust enforcers, which has been scrutinizing the industry. Cigna’s Express Scripts unit called the FTC’s July report “unfair, biased, erroneous, and defamatory” in a lawsuit filed Tuesday in federal court in Missouri.

An FTC spokesman said the agency stands by its report.

PBMs manage prescription drug plans for employers and government programs. ...