FTC, FDA Team Up to Fight Drug Monopolies, High Prices

A partnership to tackle high drug prices is budding between two federal agencies with traditionally separate missions as drug costs rise and the government struggles to rein them in.

The collaboration between the agencies—the Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission—could result in even more scrutiny for brand drugmakers as well as pharmacy benefit managers as prices increase and companies merge.

The partnership may be a sign of past promises coming to fruition. Maureen Ohlhausen, the former acting chairman of the FTC, said in November the agency would be keeping an eye on unfair practices within the drug ...