NEWS RELEASE
MICHIGAN ATTORNEY GENERAL DANA NESSEL
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Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has joined a coalition of 50 states and territories to announce two significant cooperation agreements and settlements with Heritage Pharmaceuticals and Apotex, totaling $49.1 million, resolving allegations that both companies engaged in widespread, long-running conspiracies to artificially inflate and manipulate prices, reduce competition, and unreasonably restrain trade with regard to numerous generic prescription drugs. As part of their settlement agreements, both companies have agreed to cooperate in ongoing multistate litigations against 30 corporate defendants and 25 individual executives in the pharmaceuticals industry for similar conduct. Both companies have further agreed to a series of internal reforms to ensure fair competition and compliance with antitrust laws.
A motion for preliminary approval of the $10 million settlement with Heritage has been filed in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut in Hartford. A settlement with Apotex for $39.1 million is contingent upon obtaining signatures from all necessary states and territories and will be finalized and filed in the U.S. District Court in the near future.
The settlements come as the states prepare for the first trial to be held in Hartford, Connecticut.
“Those who depend on reasonably priced pharmaceuticals to manage their health suffer when corporations collude to manipulate generic drug prices,” said Nessel. “These settlements make it clear that we will not tolerate unethical behavior that prioritizes profits above people. My office is committed to maintaining fair competition and keeping businesses accountable.”
If you purchased a generic prescription drug manufactured by either Heritage or Apotex between 2010 and 2018, you may be eligible for compensation. To determine your eligibility, call 1-866-290-0182 (Toll-Free), email the coalition or visit the Attorneys General Generic Drugs Settlement website.
Joining Connecticut and Michigan in the announcement are the attorneys general of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, U.S. Virgin Islands, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
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