The Federal Trade Commission is taking aggressive action against anticompetitive practices in the healthcare industry. It has issued stricter guidelines to prevent hospital mergers and investigated practices in the drug supply chain. The FTC challenged the validity of over 100 drug patents listed in the FDA’s “Orange Book,” which can delay approval for generic competitors. The agency sent letters to 10 drugmakers challenging patents covering delivery devices for certain drugs. After the challenge, some drugmakers voluntarily withdrew patents. The FTC is considering further action to address patent thickets in the Orange Book. The pharmaceutical industry is pushing back against the FTC’s decision.
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The FTC Escalates Biden’s Fight Against Drug Prices
