Federal Judge Rejects Request to Uncover Pharma Executives’ Subjective Beliefs in Antitrust Case

A Pennsylvania federal judge has denied a request from direct purchasers of pharmaceuticals to compel the leaders of Abbott Laboratories and other companies to express “subjective beliefs” about sham patent litigation they allegedly engaged in. The decision dismisses the purchasers’ concerns that the companies would alter their stance on certain issues during trial. This ruling highlights the complexity of extracting subjective beliefs in antitrust litigation and raises questions about the strategies used by both plaintiffs and defendants in such cases. More information on this development can be found here.