Obama administration sides with drug companies in pricing lawsuit; Supreme Court agrees to hear case regarding use of prescription drug data

At issue are charges to public hospitals and clinics that treat a large number of poor patients and a Vermont law that restricts prescription drug data.

The New York Times: U.S. Backs Drug Firms In Lawsuit Over Prices
The Obama administration, following a lengthy internal debate, has unexpectedly come down on the side of pharmaceutical companies that are accused of overcharging public hospitals and clinics that care for large numbers of poor people (Pear, 1/9).

Modern Healthcare: High Court To Hear Prescription-Drug Data Case
The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear a case in which a Vermont law seeking to restrict the use of prescription drug data in the marketing of pharmaceuticals to physicians was overturned on appeal (Barr, 1/8).

Meanwhile, in California:

The Sacramento Bee: California Backs Class-Action Suit Against Drug Giants
In one of her first acts as California's new attorney general, Kamala Harris on Friday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to end "pay-for-delay" agreements that protect name-brand drugs such as Cipro - an antibiotic used to treat exposure to anthrax - against competition from cheaper generic drugs (Calvan, 1/8).