Union accuses J&J of 'anticompetitive practices' to thwart Remicade rivals

Following in the footsteps of US drug giant Pfizer (NYSE: PFE), a New York grocery union benefits fund has sued Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) for allegedly abusing its monopoly power to exclude competition and raise prices for Remicade (infliximab).

Remicade is sold by the US healthcare giant’s Janssen subsidiary to treat chronic illnesses such as rheumatoid arthritis, plaque psoriasis, and Crohn’s disease. Last year, its revenue total was nearly $10 billion, making it the group’s top-selling pharma product.

Last month,  Pfizer filed a lawsuit accusing J&J of using exclusionary contracts and other anticompetitive practices to maintain its monopoly with the anti-inflammatory drug.