FTC sues AbbVie and Teva over dealings that kept generic AndroGel off the market

The Federal Trade Commission is suing drugmakers AbbVie and Teva, saying they conspired to temporarily keep generic versions of AbbVie's low-testosterone drug AndroGel off the market.

The FTC says AbbVie Inc. and its partner and Besins Healthcare filed baseless patent infringement lawsuits against Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. and Perrigo Co. to delay the approval and sale of less-expensive generic versions of the drug. AbbVie then struck a deal with Teva that will allow Teva to sell a generic at a later date. The FTC says that agreement included payments to Teva the government alleges were illegal.

The agency is asking a court to throw out the agreement between the companies.

AndroGel is AbbVie's second-best selling drug.

Representatives for AbbVie and Teva couldn't immediately be reached for comment.