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US: FTC accuses Shire ViroPharma of antitrust law violations

By  |  February 15, 2017

The Federal Trade Commission announced Feb. 7 the filing of a complaint against Shire ViroPharma in federal district court.

The FTC alleges the defendants violated antitrust laws by abusing government processes to delay generic competition to its branded prescription drug, Vancocin HCl capsules.

The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has a practice where it refrains from approving generic applications of a drug if there are any pending citizen petition filings. ViroPharma purportedly used this to its advantage and submitted 43 filings with the FDA to delay the process for generic versions of its drug.

“I have long advocated that the commission target abuses of government processes that significantly harm competition and consumers. The commission’s action is another example of this ongoing commitment,” said FTC acting chairwoman Maureen K. Ohlhausen.

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