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HARRISBURG -- Pennsylvanians who purchased certain generic prescription drugs between May 2009 and December 2019 could be eligible for compensation from settlements with drug manufacturers accused of conspiring to inflate prices.
Attorney General Dave Sunday is encouraging consumers to check their eligibility following preliminary court approval of a plan to distribute settlement funds.
The U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut this month granted preliminary approval to a distribution plan filed by Pennsylvania and a coalition of 47 other states and territories.
The money comes from settlements with generic drug manufacturers accused by the states of illegally conspiring to raise drug prices.
"Pennsylvanians who purchased certain generic prescription drugs during a 10-year-period beginning in 2009 may be entitled to compensation, so I encourage them to act fast," Sunday said. "The window to act is short, so consumers should check their eligibility and make sure they do not miss this opportunity."
Consumers who purchased qualifying generic drugs between May 2009 and December 2019 may be eligible. Information about covered drugs, eligibility and filing a claim is available at AGGenericDrugs.com. Consumers also can call 1-866-290-0182 or email info@AGGenericDrugs.com for information.
The coalition previously announced settlements totaling approximately $96.5 million with Glenmark, Lannett, Bausch, Apotex, Heritage and Heritage's parent company, Emcure. The distribution plan is intended to return a portion of those settlement funds to consumers potentially affected by elevated prices for drugs covered by the settlements.
Pennsylvania is among nearly all states and territories involved in a series of antitrust cases against generic drug manufacturers dating to 2016.
The first complaint involved Heritage, 17 other corporate defendants, two individual defendants and 15 generic drugs. A second complaint, filed in 2019, named Teva Pharmaceuticals and 21 other generic drug manufacturers, as well as 16 individual executives.
A third case focuses on 80 topical generic drugs and names 26 corporate defendants and 10 individual defendants. The states filed a fourth complaint earlier this year alleging Novartis AG, Sandoz Group AG and Sandoz AG are liable for alleged conduct involving Sandoz and for the fraudulent transfer of assets.
According to the Attorney General's Office, the cases grew out of investigations involving cooperating witnesses, millions of documents and phone records. The states allege executives from competing companies communicated and met with one another as part of agreements intended to limit competition and increase generic drug prices.
Seven pharmaceutical executives are cooperating with the states in the cases, according to the Attorney General's Office.