Bayer sues Johnson & Johnson over marketing of prostate cancer drug

NEW YORK, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Bayer sued Johnson & Johnson ‌on Monday, accusing ‌the rival drugmaker of falsely advertising ​a drug intended to treat prostate cancer.

According to a complaint filed in Manhattan ‌federal court, ⁠Johnson & Johnson launched a false advertising campaign against ⁠Bayer's Nubeqa drug, in order to promote and ​demonstrate the ​alleged ​superiority of its ‌own drug, Erleada.

Bayer is seeking triple damages, the recoupment of alleged ill-gotten profits, and an injunction to stop ‌Johnson & Johnson's alleged ​false advertising.

Johnson & ​Johnson did ​not immediately respond ‌to a request ​for comment.

(Reporting ​by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Additional reporting ​by ‌Friederike Heine in Berlin; Editing ​by Tomasz Janowski and ​Chizu Nomiyama)