HEALTH

Drug Company Challenges Rogaine Decision: Pharmacia & Upjohn Inc., maker of the hair-growth drug Rogaine, sued the U.S. government, challenging its decision to let other companies sell generic copies of the substance, topical minoxidil, over the counter. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Kalamazoo, Mich., claims that federal law entitles the London-based company to a three-year extension of its patent protection in exchange for the research it took to prove Rogaine could be safely switched from a prescription to a nonprescription preparation. The patent on Rogaine expired Feb. 13, four days after the company received FDA approval to sell it over the counter. Last week, the FDA said it would let Alpharma Inc. of Fort Lee, N.J., and Lemmon Co. of Sellersville, Pa., sell generic versions. Pharmacia’s suggested retail price for a one-month supply is about $30; those companies are expected to offer it for less.