AARP Will Join Suits Against Drug Makers

AARP, which represents 35 million older Americans, said it will join lawsuits against six drug makers accused of improperly blocking less expensive generic versions of their drugs.

The cases include Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.’s BuSpar anti-anxiety drug, Schering-Plough Corp.’s K-dur potassium chloride supplement and AstraZeneca’s breast cancer treatment tamoxifen.

Prescription Access Litigation Project, a Boston-based coalition of consumer advocates, initially filed the lawsuits.

Bristol-Myers Squibb, AstraZeneca and Schering-Plough officials declined to comment.