"Turf wars" between rival drugs 'gangs', resulted in a high number of fatal shootings.
Genentech has filed a patent infringement suit against Burroughs-Wellcome of Britain, which is believed to be close to completing human clinical trials on a rival drug.
A generic version of a rival drug, Tagamet, is expected to cut into Zantac sales, as is a new ulcer treatment.
Zocor sales were boosted by a recall of Baycol, a rival drug produced by Bayer, over safety concerns.
But the agency did not approve a rival drug from Xoma, and that company's shares tumbled 5, to 15 1/2.
Burroughs at first justified its astoundingly high price for AZT by noting rival drugs would soon be on the market.
But the rival drugs still haven't appeared.
Mel tells them to intercept a truck driver bringing rival drugs to a diner at night.
The trade commission had challenged the settlement between the drug makers because it delayed the generic company from bringing a rival drug to the market.
Instead, the F.D.A. in April approved a rival drug from the Genzyme Corporation.