Becton Dickinson Faces Antitrust Suit Over Hernia Mesh Products

Becton Dickinson and Co. was sued in Pennsylvania federal court by a smaller surgical technology company for abusing its monopoly over the market for hernia mesh, which is used to repair weakened internal tissue.

TELA Bio Inc. said in its lawsuit that Becton Dickinson and its subsidiaries dominate the market for hernia mesh, controlling 65% of the permanent mesh market and 77% of the resorbable mesh market, a modern mesh that can naturally absorb into the body.

Becton Dickinson abused that market share when TELA a new, advanced resorbable mesh called OviTex by a “complex scheme multiyear contracts” with hospitals ...