Hagens Berman has filed multiple lawsuits against numerous generic pharmaceutical companies for conspiring to increase and set prices on inexpensive, commonly used generic drugs.
WHAT DRUGS ARE AFFECTED?
The drugs that are the subject of the alleged conspiracy include drugs for the treatment of serious health conditions, such as heart failure, high blood pressure and diabetes. In some cases the market saw triple-digit percentage price increases, allegedly putting the products out of reach of patients who require them.
GENERIC DRUG PRICING EXPLAINED
In a typical mature market for commodity products, such as generic drugs, sellers compete aggressively for market share by reducing prices. But the complaints alleged the following: defendants here entered into a “Fair Share” agreement, through which defendants agreed to fix and raise prices, rig bids, and allocate markets for many dozens (if not hundreds) of generic drugs. To carry out this agreement, representatives of defendants communicated with their “competitors” constantly, through phone calls, emails, trade association meetings, and social events. The conspirators knew their conduct was illegal, and took extensive measures to conceal their activities – including, in some instances, allegedly intentionally destroying evidence of their incriminating communications.
The United States Department of Justice has opened a criminal investigation and has already secured guilty pleas from three high-ranking generic pharmaceutical company executives. The Attorneys General of 49 states have joined the multidistrict litigation, and they have announced that this “could be the largest cartel case in the history of the United States.”
TOP PHARMA LAW FIRM
Hagens Berman is one of the most successful litigation law firms in the U.S. taking on pharmaceutical companies and has achieved more than $320 billion in settlements against Big Pharma largest sellers and manufacturers for antitrust schemes, pay-for-delay, IP shams and other forms of wrongdoing that drive up the costs of prescription drugs for consumers and others.
CASE TIMELINE
U.S. District Judge Cynthia M. Rufe for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania granted preliminary approval to a combined amount of up to $86 million in settlements with Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Inc., Taro Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. and Breckenridge Pharmaceutical Inc. The settlements will be paid to direct purchasers and indirect resellers to settle price-fixing allegations of generic prescription drugs. The U.S. Department of Justice has opened a criminal probe into the matter, following Hagens Berman’s case.
Plaintiffs in the case sought approval from Judge Cynthia M. Rufe of combined $86 million in settlements as well as certification of a settlement class. Specifically, Taro will pay about $67.6 million into the settlement fund, and Sun will pay just under $17.4 million, according to the motion for preliminary approval.
Direct Purchaser Class Plaintiffs filed an additional complaint identifying another 116 drugs subject to price-fixing and market allocation conspiracies by generic drug manufacturers.
Court denied motions to dismiss with respect to all but defendant Telligent regarding six drugs. Court granted leave to amend complaint against Telligent.
Direct Purchaser Plaintiffs file an additional Class Action Complaint alleging an overarching conspiracy across 24 defendants to set prices and allocate markets of generic pharmaceutical drugs.
All cases consolidated in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and assigned to Judge Cynthia M. Rufe. In approving transfer, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation noted that “between 2012 and 2015, [plaintiffs allege] the average market price for these generic drugs underwent significant increases that corresponded with meetings of trade associations,” and that plaintiffs’ allegations “stem from the same government investigation into price fixing, market allocation, and other anti-competitive conduct in the generic pharmaceuticals industry.”
Defendants in first grouping of cases file motions to dismiss.
From May 2016 to August 2017, DPPs filed 37 complaints against 33 defendants covering 18 pharmaceuticals.
