North Carolina joins $29.6 million generic-drug price-fixing settlement
North Carolina consumers and state payors are expected to receive more than $700,000 from the Glenmark settlement.
RALEIGH — North Carolina consumers and state health care payors are expected to receive more than $700,000 through a $29.6 million multistate settlement with generic-drug manufacturer Glenmark Pharmaceuticals.
Attorney General Jeff Jackson announced the settlement Friday as part of a series of antitrust cases involving allegations that generic-drug manufacturers coordinated prices and restricted competition.
The settlement resolves claims that Glenmark participated in communications with executives, sales representatives and pricing employees at competing companies to inflate or manipulate prices for generic prescription drugs.
Glenmark did not admit liability by entering the settlement. The agreement requires the company to make internal changes intended to protect competition and cooperate with continuing cases against more than 30 pharmaceutical companies and more than 20 executives.
Consumers who purchased certain generic drugs manufactured by Glenmark, Lannett, Bausch, Apotex or Heritage between May 2009 and December 2019 may qualify for compensation.
Potentially eligible consumers may obtain information by calling 1-866-290-0182, emailing info@AGGenericDrugs.com or visiting AGGenericDrugs.com.
The North Carolina Department of Justice said the Glenmark agreement brings the combined value of its settlements with generic-drug manufacturers to $66.95 million.
The multistate investigation began in 2016. Subsequent complaints expanded the allegations to include dozens of generic-drug companies, corporate executives and medications.
Investigators collected more than 20 million documents along with telephone records and contact information involving more than 600 pharmaceutical sales and pricing employees, according to the department.
The complaints allege competing company representatives communicated through calls, emails and text messages and met during industry events and social gatherings. State attorneys general contend those communications supported agreements to divide market share, limit competition or avoid aggressive price reductions.
The current settlement includes 48 states and territories. North Carolina’s share will be distributed among eligible consumers and state payors under the settlement’s allocation process.
The state has not provided a deadline for consumers to submit claims. People who believe they qualify should use the settlement administrator’s contact information and avoid unsolicited messages requesting payment or sensitive financial information.
Editor’s note: This article was drafted with the assistance of artificial intelligence and was reviewed and fact-checked by a member of the NC Political News editorial team before publication.
