Teva, Boehringer Drugs Among FTC Targets Threatening Exclusivity

The US Federal Trade Commission is challenging the listings of scores of patents in the US Food and Drug Administration’s registry of approved drugs, potentially accelerating the approval of generic versions of 18 branded asthma inhalers, epinephrine autoinjectors, and other drug products.

“Wrongfully listed patents can significantly drive up the prices Americans must pay for medicines and drug products while undermining fair and honest competition,” FTC Chair Lina M. Khan said Tuesday in the agency’s statement about the effort.

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., GlaxoSmithKline Plc, and Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH were hit particularly hard—each now faces the potential ...