Sanofi-Aventis Accused Of Monopoly Abuse

NEWARK (CN) - Sanofi-Aventis abuses its "Lovenox" monopoly in injectable anticoagulant drugs to restrain trade, a competitor, Eisai, claims in a federal antitrust complaint.

Sanofi-Aventis' Lovenox accounts for more than 90 percent of sales for injectable anticoagulants, says Eisai, whose competing product is called Fragmin.

Eisai claims Sanofi-Aventis abuses its monopoly by demanding, successfully, that hospitals buy at least 90 percent of their injectable anticoagulants from Sanofi, on threat of losing their 30 percent discount.

This is an illegal, exclusionary contract, Eisai says. It demands an injunction prohibiting Sanofi from enforcing its exclusionary contracts for 10 years, plus monetary damages. Its lead counsel is Timothy Duffy with Coughlin Duffy of Morristown, N.J.