Judge Refuses to Block Bergen Acquisition

A judge on Tuesday denied a San Diego company’s request to block Orange-based Bergen Brunswig Corp.’s pending acquisition of PharMerica Inc., a Tampa, Fla., supplier of drugs to nursing homes.

Bergen and PharMerica stockholders are scheduled to vote Thursday on the transaction.

San Diego Superior Court Judge S. Charles Wickersham turned aside PMR Corp.’s request for a temporary restraining order blocking the deal. The company filed a lawsuit last week accusing a Bergen subsidiary of breaching an agreement with PMR, which provides disease management services for people with mental illnesses or chemical dependencies.

Federal antitrust officials cleared the Bergen-PharMerica deal in January.