Published: 7/7/2012 - Updated: 10 months ago

Suit alleges drug firms delayed generic Lipitor

BLADE STAFF

TRENTON, N.J. — Five large drug and grocery chains are suing Pfizer Inc. and a second drug maker, alleging they conspired to delay sales of generic versions of the cholesterol drug Lipitor.

The lawsuit, filed Thursday by Walgreen Co., Kroger Co., and three other retailers in U.S. District Court in Trenton, N.J., accuses Pfizer of patent fraud as well as "illegal, anti-competitive conduct" with generic drug maker Ranbaxy Laboratories of India to block other generic drug makers from selling versions of Lipitor, called atorvastatin calcium, until recently.

The lawsuit says generic Lipitor, which became available in the United States on Nov. 30, should have been on the market nearly two years earlier.

Guidelines: Please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. If a comment violates these standards or our privacy statement or visitor's agreement, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report abuse. To post comments, you must be a Facebook member. To find out more, please visit the FAQ.

Related stories