Spring training is in full swing, and the Supreme Court umpire has left the pharmaceutical industry stuck between the bases. Yesterday's ruling must have drugmakers like Pfizer
Diana Levine sued Wyeth
Unfortunately for Wyeth and the rest of the drug industry, the Supreme Court disagreed. The court basically said that the FDA's actions on drugs could supersede state law, but Congress would need to write that into law like it did for medical devices.
Good luck with that. Medical device makers like Boston Scientific
However, it looks like Congress might take that away -- Congressmen Henry Waxman and others want a law to overturn the Supreme Court ruling. Given that, it looks like it would be an uphill battle to get Congress to protect the pharmaceutical companies in a similar manner.
So, drug companies are stuck with no place to hide. I doubt they'll take action to unilaterally change their labels and risk the FDA pulling rank, so they'll basically be left to potentially be sued for any warning not on their label.
And investors will be left footing the bill. Thanks a lot, Supreme Court.
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