AstraZeneca Loses Bid to Postpone HHS’s Drug Discount Deadline

A judge denied AstraZeneca’s request for two extra weeks to present a plan to resume giving steep drug discounts to certain pharmacies.

Judge Leonard P. Stark of the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware instead expedited on Monday a hearing originally set for June 9, which has now been rescheduled for May 27. AstraZeneca requested a speedier hearing as an alternative to pushing back the deadline for a discount plan.

The case tests the government’s enforcement power under the federal 340B program, which requires drugmakers to give discounts to health centers with low-income patients. Drug companies have reduced ...