United States v. Pfizer, American Cyanamid (Lederle Labs.), Bristol Laboratories, Squibb and Upjohn
Dec 01, 1980OUTCOME: After 26 months of trial, case dismissed.
The federal government charged five drug companies with conspiracy to enforce the original patent on the drug tetracycline, that allegedly had been obtained through fraud on the patent office. After 2 ... 6 months of intermittent trial proceedings in Philadelphia, Judge Weiner found lack of intent to mislead patent examiner Herbert Lidoff and thus lack of an antitrust violation in enforcing the patent on the drug tetracycline. The Antitrust Division appealed the decision to the Third Circuit, where the district court's decision was affirmed.
