US District Court rules AbbVie’s conduct was not illegal, but prevented competition

The Big Molecule Watch reports that a US District Court Judge ruled AbbVie’s conduct in relation to its blockbuster Humira® (adalimumab), while preventing competitors from reaching the market in the US, was not illegal. The action was filed against AbbVie by a number of parties including the City of Baltimore and a pension for Police Officers, and alleges that by amassing a ‘patent thicket’ and settling litigation with competitors which prevented them launching in the US, AbbVie had engaged in conduct which breached federal and state antitrust laws.