Kentucky-based health insurance company, Humana, is suing several drugmakers, alleging they conspired to delay competition for HIV drugs, giving Gilead a monopoly on the market.
Humana filed lawsuits in a Northern California district court against Gilead Sciences, Bristol Myers Squibb, Janssen Pharmaceuticals and Teva Pharmaceuticals.
At the center of the claims is Gilead, whose branded HIV portfolio represented 69% of the company’s overall revenue in 2020. Humana cited examples such as controversial "pay for delay" deals between Teva and Gilead, as well as partnerships established to create new combo drugs, such as Atripla, a combo of Bristol Myer's Sustiva and Gilead's Truvada.
Ultimately, Humana says the schemes forced Humana to pay more for HIV drugs than they otherwise would have if generics were available.