The FTC has announced that it is suing Warner Chilcott and Barr Laboratories over an alleged agreement signed between the two companies to prevent Barr from selling a generic version of the birth control pill Ovcon. Warner Chilcott, the original maker of the drug, faced a 50 percent decline in sales once the pill's patent was up, and Barr had plans to launch a generic version of the drug. Warner was working a chewable tablet but was unable to launch it before Barr's drug hit the market. To prevent financial losses, the FTC alleges Warner offered Barr $20 million not to market generic Ovcon in the US for five years.
- read this press release for more details on the Warner Chilcott/Barr agreement