Generic Drug Antitrust Trials Will Start With Dermatology Focus

The first trial of claims that the generic drug industry engaged in an “overarching conspiracy” to fix prices will focus on dermatology products, a federal judge in Philadelphia ruled, saying they were the least likely to be complicated by related criminal prosecutions.

In picking the “bellwether” case, Judge Cynthia M. Rufe sided with the state attorneys general leading the multidistrict litigation. She rejected a call from the drugmakers facing the lawsuit to start instead with a trial over the alleged role played by Heritage Pharmaceutical Inc. in any broader cartel.

“It is not possible to litigate the MDL without some ...