SPOTLIGHT: High court rejects generic appeal

The Supreme Court has ruled that it will not hear an appeal of a case that has allowed drug makers to strike deals with generic manufacturers to keep cheap copycat drugs off of the market. The FTC had filed suit, saying that they violated federal antitrust laws. The case revolved around two payments totaling $75 million from Schering-Plough to settle lawsuits filed by generic drug makers seeking to market knockoffs of its drugs. Analysts say the decision by the high court will clear the way for more such deals, keeping less expensive generic drugs off of the market. Report