For nearly four years, pharmaceutical heavyweights Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer have sparred in court over competitive dynamics of the biosimilar industry, demanding the attention of the industry in a groundbreaking case that had some promise to serve as a bellwether for the future.
Instead, the closely-watched battle, in which Pfizer claimed J&J unfairly stifled competition for Pfizer’s once-promising biosimilar Inflectra, has ended quietly. The companies confirmed on Monday that they have settled their case, with the terms undisclosed. The settlement was first reported by the American Journal of Managed Care.
Related: Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson Settle Remicade Antitrust Suit
The lawsuit, filed by Pfizer in September of 2017, claimed J&J struck “exclusionary contracts” to protect its immunology blockbuster Remicade, used to treat a variety of disorders including Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and rheumatoid arthritis.
“Pfizer and J&J have agreed to resolve and dismiss all claims asserted in the US antitrust matter concerning Inflectra,” Pfizer said in a statement by email. “Resolution of this case allows the company to focus on breakthroughs that improve patients’ lives.”
