Sanofi, Novartis Face Skeptical Judge on Drug Rebate Model Plan

A federal judge appeared doubtful Tuesday about challenges from four drugmakers over a federal health agency’s rejection of a discount medicine rebate plan for providers that treat lower-income and uninsured patients.

Sanofi SA, Novartis AG, Bristol Myers Squibb Co., Eli Lilly & Co., and health tech company Kalderos Inc., sought to convince Judge Dabney L. Friedrich of the US District Court for the District of Columbia that the US Health Resources and Services Administration acted unlawfully when it rejected proposals from drugmakers to discount medicines through a rebate model rather than up front to covered ...