Pharma Gets Win in Court Appeal Over Maryland Drug Discount Law

AbbVie Inc., Novartis AG, AstraZeneca Plc, and drug industry group PhRMA notched a victory Tuesday after a federal appeals court vacated an order rejecting their request to block a Maryland drug discount law, remanding the decision for review.

The US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled a lower court “erred” when it denied the drugmakers and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America’s motion for a preliminary injunction against Maryland’s H.B. 1056. The law, currently in effect, requires manufacturers to distribute discounted drugs to an unlimited number of pharmacies that contract with health providers under ...