AbbVie improperly blocked AndroGel competition: FTC

AbbVie Inc. was accused Monday of filing baseless patent-infringement lawsuits to protect AndroGel from generic competition.

AbbVie and partner Besins Healthcare Inc. illegally blocked consumer access to lower-cost versions of the $1 billion-a-year testosterone replacement drug, the Federal Trade Commission alleges in a complaint filed Monday.

The FTC says AbbVie and Besins filed lawsuits against Teva Pharmaceuticals and Perrigo Co. to delay regulatory approval of generic versions of AndroGel. The FTC also alleges AbbVie improperly paid Teva to drop its countersuit and delay marketing of its competing product.

“The FTC is acting today to stop anticompetitive conduct by AbbVie, Besins Healthcare and Teva which has forced consumers to overpay hundreds of millions for the drug AndroGel,” FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez said in a news release.

“We cannot comment on the lawsuit specifically. However, our patent infringement lawsuits were appropriate and our settlement agreements were lawful, as well as in the best interest of all parties,” said Dirk Van Eeden, AbbVie senior director of public affairs.

AbbVie accused of improperly blocking AndroGel competition