Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY) has filed a lawsuit over a U.S. health agency's alleged attempts to block its model for offering rebates for drugs supplied under the government's 340B Program, days after its rival Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) filed a similar lawsuit.

Eli Lilly became the second drugmaker this week to sue the U.S. government for rejecting their proposed changes to a program that requires selling discounted drugs to certain medical facilities.

Eli Lilly said on Thursday it sued the federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) over allegedly blocking the company's plan to change the way it offers drug discounts to hospitals. The case centers on the federal 340B program,

Eli Lilly sued the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for allegedly blocking the pharma giant's proposal to change the manner by which it offers discounts on medicines under the 340B program.

Eli Lilly proposed a plan to ensure 340B entities pay no more than the ceiling price by providing them with cash directly on a weekly basis.

Johnson & Johnson is escalating its fight with the federal government over its controversial plan to change how it doles out drug discounts to hospitals. | Johnson & Johnson is escalating its fight with the federal government over its controversial plan to change how it doles out drug discounts to hospitals.