Pfizer in hot water
November 10, 2011
PHARMACISTS in the United
States are suing Pfizer and New
Delhi based Ranbaxy Laboratories
for an alleged “unlawful agreement”.
According to their allegations,
Pfizer and Ranbaxy agreed to delay
the release of Ranbaxy’s generic
version of Lipitor in the US, which
could have been sold as early as
March last year, in a move which
netted Pfizer US$18b.
The alleged “unlawful
agreement” saw Ranbaxy repaid for
its delay with the ability to
distribute its generic Lipitor earlier
in foreign markets than it
otherwise would have been able to.
“The agreement by defendants
denies purchasers’ access to a
generic substitute to Lipitor in the
United States for up to 20 months
after the expiration of the active
ingredient patent for Lipitor,” the
pharmacists’ lawsuit says.
“Lipitor’s current price exceeds
$4 a day, while a generic version
will sell for between $0.25-$0.35
and even as low as $0.10.
“Consequently, Lipitor
purchasers in the United States are
paying now, and will continue to
pay, inflated prices for this lifesaving
pharmaceutical at least
through May of 2012,” the lawsuit
added.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 10 Nov 11To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 10 Nov 11
