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At the Supreme Court on Monday, there were signs that the pharmaceutical industry could end up on the losing side of a case with serious implications for medicine and drug prices. The case in question focused on the Obama administration’s rules for a new process to review patents. Drug makers, supporting the plaintiffs, are urging the court to change that process, which right now makes it easier to invalidate the patents that are crucial to their business. (Scott, 4/25)

The Supreme Court on Monday wrestled with the wonky issue of patent reviews in a case that has drawn heavy interest from the pharmaceutical and technology industries as they battle over reforming the nation's patent laws. (Tummarello, 4/25)

The court heard oral arguments in a case involving patents, including drug patents. It used to be that to challenge one, you'd have to actually go to court. That was a slow, expensive business, so Congress created a fast track: a patent review board. ... Big Pharma doesn't like the review board. But organizations that want to bring down the price of prescription drugs for consumers love it, and they're being joined in their fight by people who aren't usually seen as champions of consumer rights — hedge fund managers. (Gorenstein, 4/25)

Accidents happen, and if they’re someone else’s fault, you can go to court to try to get compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you win, though, the pot of gold you receive may be considerably smaller than you expect: Your health plan may claim some or all of it as reimbursement for money it spent on your medical care. It’s completely legal and it happens all the time. But a recent Supreme Court decision gives consumers ammunition to push back. (Andrews, 4/26)