Senators Ask FTC to Probe Biologic Drug Competition

Antitrust regulators need to look at drug company practices that may be delaying access to cheaper versions of biologic medicines, two senators said.

Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) asked the Federal Trade Commission June 22 to determine if makers of biologic drugs are using patent litigation settlements to delay the entry of the cheaper versions, known as biosimilars.

Action by the FTC could affect drugmakers’ ability to end patent lawsuits and could create uncertainty about litigation costs. All eyes will be on the commission’s response because the FTC is made up of almost ...