Mylan Files Lawsuit Against Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

   DOW JONES NEWSWIRES 
 

Mylan Inc. (MYL) filed a civil lawsuit against the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and several reporters following reports in the paper that questioned quality control at one of its plants.

Last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration closed its investigation into Mylan's Morgantown, W.Va., plant, finding no deficiencies.

The potential issues came to light last month in a Post-Gazette report, which alleged that plant workers were overriding computer-generated warnings. Confusing statements from both the company and regulators created volatility in the generic drug maker's stock price.

An FDA spokeswoman said last week the agency didn't plan additional action, and Mylan appeared to conduct an "adequate investigation" of the matter, with no evidence that there was any adverse impact to affected product lots.

Last month, the Post-Gazette reported that Mylan had launched an internal probe to investigate whether workers at the plant had been routinely overriding computer-generated warnings about the drugs being produced at the plant. The newspaper cited an internal report and had other experts review the report and call it a significant problem.

Mylan said in announcing its lawsuit that the articles "mischaracterized a minor deviation from an internal Mylan procedure, creating the false appearance of significant quality and regulatory issues...when no such issues existed."

The lawsuit seeks the return of internal confidential documents Mylan said the Post-Gazette obtained improperly and without the company's knowledge. The company also seeks damages from the defendants, who also include reporters Len Boselovic and Patricia Sabatini.

The Post-Gazette was unable to be reached for comment.

Mylan's shares closed Tuesday at $13.99 and were unchanged in premarket trading.

-By Kerry Grace Benn, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2353; [e-mail]