A federal judge is considering a bid by pharmacy trade groups to halt Express Scripts Inc. (ESRX)’s $29.1 billion acquisition of Medco Health Solutions Inc. (MHS) U.S. District Judge Cathy Bissoon yesterday heard three hours of arguments in a lawsuit filed by the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, the National Community Pharmacists Association and independent pharmacies that claim the transaction approved by U.S. regulators violates antitrust laws because it will reduce competition and lead to less services available to retail pharmacy customers. The judge said she will rule on the case later.
