Government
Minn. judge allows access to drugmakers' files in reimportation case
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted May 24, 2004
A Minnesota judge in May ruled that the state's attorney general, Mike Hatch, has a right to access GlaxoSmithKline documents in his attempt to prove that the company broke antitrust laws when it restricted shipments of medicine to wholesalers and pharmacies in Canada that sell drugs to U.S. citizens. GlaxoSmithKline executives said they were disappointed with the decision and expect to appeal it.
In a statement, the company called its conduct "perfectly legal," noting that a federal court in Oklahoma last year ruled that drug reimportation from Canada violates U.S. laws. GlaxoSmithKline also noted that the Food and Drug Administration has said that reimportation puts patients at risk.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/05/24/gvbf0524.htm.
