Teva Accused of Manipulating Patent to Monopolize Inhaler Market

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. unlawfully manipulated the US patent and drug-approval process to monopolize the QVAR asthma inhaler market for nearly a decade after cheaper generics should’ve been allowed to compete, a workers’ health-care fund claimed in a new federal complaint.

The private antitrust class action complaint, filed in the District of Massachusetts, contends Teva engaged in an anti-competitive product hop, stuffed the US Food and Drug Administration’s Orange Book with improper applications for slightly tweaked products, and engaged in sham litigation to block generic drug makers from introducing cheaper competing inhalers.

“Teva perpetrated a full panoply of anticompetitive delay ...