Bayer Accuses J&J of Misleading Ads for Its Prostate-Cancer Drug

Bayer AG headquarters in Leverkusen, Germany.

Photographer: Alex Kraus/Bloomberg

A unit of Bayer AG accused rival Johnson & Johnson of misleading statements in its advertisements to get a leg up in the multi-billion dollar market for prostate cancer drugs.

J&J’s campaign for its Erleada drug “contains improper and misleading claims” about the medication’s safety and effectiveness, which Bayer claims is hurting prospects for its cancer drug, Nubeqa, according to a lawsuit filed Monday in New York federal court. Bayer asked a judge to order J&J to correct its claims.