Federal Judge Rejects Pharmacy Benefit Managers' Request to Pause FTC Case on Insulin Costs Amid Lawsuit Over 22-Year-Old's Asthma Death

A federal judge in Missouri has denied a request from three major pharmacy benefit managers to pause the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) case regarding rising insulin costs. This decision allows the FTC's investigation into the pricing practices of UnitedHealth, CVS, and Cigna to proceed. In related developments, a prescription benefit manager is seeking to dismiss a lawsuit linked to the death of a 22-year-old due to an asthma inhaler price increase. Additionally, generic drugmakers have successfully challenged a California law aimed at prohibiting pay-to-delay agreements, which has implications for drug pricing and competition. Meanwhile, Aetna and other large health insurers have filed a lawsuit against Corcept Therapeutics, alleging that the company has hindered generic competition in the market.