On Monday, a federal judge in Mississippi denied requests from pharmaceutical companies to block a state law that requires manufacturers to distribute discounted drugs to an unlimited number of pharmacies under a federal drug discount program. The ruling by Judge Halil Suleyman Ozerden for the US District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi came in response to separate lawsuits filed by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Inc. and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.
The plaintiffs had sought preliminary injunctions to stop the implementation of Mississippi’s law (H.B.728), claiming it was preempted under federal law. However, Judge Ozerden determined that the companies had not shown a substantial likelihood of success on the merits to warrant a preliminary injunction.
Under the Mississippi law, pharmaceutical manufacturers must provide discounted drugs to any pharmacy that meets the requirements of the federal drug discount program. The law aims to increase access to affordable medications for residents of the state.
The decision by the federal judge to deny the injunctions is seen as a victory for proponents of the law, including consumer advocacy groups and public health officials. The ruling allows the Mississippi law to remain in effect while the lawsuits continue to progress through the legal system.
Overall, the ruling represents a setback for the pharmaceutical industry’s efforts to challenge state laws aimed at increasing access to affordable medications. The outcome of the lawsuits will have implications not only for Mississippi but for other states seeking to implement similar measures to lower drug costs for their residents.
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