In the latest slap at a pharmaceutical company by a local government, the city of Baltimore has filed a lawsuit accusing Biogen of striking an "unlawful" scheme with the largest pharmacy benefit managers to block generic competition of a best-selling multiple sclerosis treatment. The effort allegedly originated as Biogen planned to fend off generic companies that hoped to sell lower-cost alternatives to Tecfidera which, several years ago, had been a franchise product and generated nearly half of its revenue. With looming patent expirations, Biogen sought to market a "next generation" version called Vumerity and convince doctors to switch patients to the newer drug.
