Johnson Matthey methylphenidate production subject of appeals court case brought by M.D. Pharma.

Executive Summary

JOHNSON MATTHEY METHYLPHENIDATE PRODUCTION SUBJECT OF COURT REVIEW: oral arguments were heard in MD Pharmaceutical v. Drug Enforcement Administration Dec. 4 before a three-judge panel of the D.C. federal appeals court. MD Pharmaceutical is seeking to rescind a DEA order granting registration of Johnson Matthey as a manufacturer of the Schedule II controlled substance methylphenidate, the active ingredient in Ciba-Geigy's Ritalin. The Medeva subsidiary argues that the decision to register Johnson Matthey was "unsupported by substantial evidence, in face of the company's knowing and repeated violations" of the Controlled Substances Act and DEA regulations. Johnson Matthey intervened into the case but did not present oral arguments.