J&J sues drug distributors for selling fake HIV drugs

• The company is seeking $25M in damages from each defendant

Johnson and Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) filed a lawsuit against drug distributors and a pharmacy, alleging that the latter sold counterfeit versions of its HIV drug.

J&J said in the suit made public on Tuesday, that the drugs it alleged were counterfeit, posed an acute threat to public health. J&J is seeking a court order blocking further counterfeit sales and at least $25 million in damages from each defendant, reported Reuters.

J&J said that three-drug distributors—SafeChain Solutions LLC, ProPharma Distribution LLC, and Scripts Wholesale Inc.—have sold large quantities of counterfeit HIV medications.