Healthy Skepticism Library item: 17029

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Electronic Source

Silverman E
Abbott Pays $22.5M To States Over TriCor
Pharmalot 2010 Jan 7
http://www.pharmalot.com/2010/01/abbott-pays-225m-to-states-over-tri-cor/

Full text:

The drugmaker was accused of conspiring to block generics of its TriCor cholesterol med – a $1 billion seller – from becoming available by making minor changes in formulation. Lawsuits were previously filed by a group of generic drugmakers, retailers and wholesalers, including Teva Pharmaceuticals, Walgreen and Rite-Aid, which Abbott settled for $184 million in November 2008 (see here).
The multi-state lawsuit, which was filed in March 2008, alleged Abbott and Laboratoires Fournier, which discovered the drug, made the changes to TriCor knowing there was no clinical benefit, but didso in order to prevent pharmacists from dispensing less-expensive generic versions. The states also charged the drugmakers thwarted generics by filing baseless patent-infringement lawsuits against generic rivals (here is the settlement agreement).
“These companies deprived taxpayers, state agencies, and consumers of a fair marketplace that would have lowered prices by offering less expensive generics,” New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, says in a statement. “They manipulated the market causing New York and its citizens to pay more, and that cannot be tolerated. Because of this settlement, millions of dollars will now be distributed into New York State programs.”