FTC asks court to hold Martin Shkreli in contempt over pharma ban

· Health · United States

The US Federal Trade Commission and seven states asked a New York federal court to hold Martin Shkreli in contempt for allegedly violating a court-ordered lifetime ban from the pharmaceutical industry. The FTC also demanded that Shkreli divest his pharmaceutical stocks. The action escalates the agency's long-running pursuit of Shkreli, who became a symbol of drug-pricing controversies and was previously barred from the industry. A contempt finding could bring further penalties and force unwinding of his pharma holdings, underscoring regulators' willingness to enforce bans on individuals they view as repeat offenders.

Why it matters：It shows regulators are willing to enforce industry bans against individuals aggressively, which matters for how lifetime exclusions are policed across pharma.

Key points

  • The FTC and seven states filed the contempt request in a New York federal court.
  • Shkreli is accused of violating a court-ordered lifetime ban from the pharmaceutical industry.
  • The FTC also asked him to divest his pharma stocks.

Sources (original reporting)

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