FTC probing J&J over arthritis drug Remicade

The organization issued a civil investigative demand to the drugmaker to see if its biosimilar defense strategy violates federal antitrust laws.

July 30, 2019

The Federal Trade Commission issued a civil investigative demand to Johnson and Johnson last month. According to J&J, the subpeona is part of an investigation into whether contracting practices for its rheumatoid arthritis blockbuster Remicade violated antitrust laws.

Pfizer a lawsuit against J&J in 2017, saying its contracts with health insurers for Remicade, were anticompetitive and aimed at blocking sales of Pfizer’s biosimilar called Inflectra. Pfizer's lawsuit alleged that J&J contracted with insurers to give discounts in exchange for giving preference to Remicade.

J&J has denied any wrongdoing and is fighting the Pfizer lawsuit.

Read the Reuters report