The California Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Gilead Sciences in a legal case concerning whether the company holds a duty to innovate. The decision was reached by a 6-to-1 vote.
The judicial split in the California Supreme Court decision
By siding with Gilead Sciences, the court overturned a state appeals court ruling from two years ago that had suggested the company could be held liable. The previous ruling was part of a legal challenge regarding the company's responsibility to develop newer medical alternatives.
The litigation is tied to claims involving an older drug sold by Gilead Sciences. In federal and state court lawsuits, more than 24,000 people claimed they suffered bone loss and kidney injury from the medication.
Thousands of patients argued that Gilead Sciences acted with negligence by slow-walking the development of an HIV medicine that was safer than a drug the company was already selling.
Following the ruling, the pharmaceutical industry expressed alarm that drug development decisions could be influenced by the fear of legal liability.
