Maine Joins 45-State Coalition in Settlements with Three Generic Drug Makers over Price-Fixing Allegations
The Maine Attorney General's Office announced on October 8 that Attorney General Aaron M. Frey joined a coalition of 45 states and territories in seeking court approval of settlements with Ascend Laboratories, Citron Pharma and Mayne Pharma, resolving allegations that the generic drug manufacturers engaged in a widespread, long-running conspiracy to artificially inflate and manipulate prices, reduce competition and unreasonably restrain trade for numerous generic prescription drugs.
Under the settlements, Ascend will pay $400,000 to the states and Mayne will pay $650,000. Citron's settlement includes only non-monetary terms, because the company has ceased business operations. Each company also agreed to injunctive terms, including a series of internal reforms to ensure fair competition and compliance with antitrust laws.
The Attorney General's Office said the states previously reached settlements with Sandoz, Glenmark, Lannett, Bausch, Apotex, Heritage and Heritage's parent company Emcure totaling $496.5 million. The coalition's first trial against the remaining defendants is set for February 2027 in Hartford, Connecticut.
Consumers who bought certain generic prescription drugs in the United States between May 2009 and December 2019 may be eligible for compensation, according to the Attorney General's Office, and can check eligibility and file a claim by calling 1-866-290-0182, emailing [email protected] or visiting AGGenericDrugs.com.
On October 20, Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador announced that Idaho had joined more than 40 states and territories in seeking court approval of a $400 million settlement with Sandoz and its Fougera unit, along with separate settlements with Ascend, Citron and Mayne. Under the agreements and Sandoz's earlier settlements with other states, Sandoz will pay a total of approximately $469 million to resolve the state enforcers' claims, also covering allegations that its affiliates (Novartis AG, Sandoz AG and Sandoz Group AG) took part in the alleged anticompetitive conduct and fraudulently transferred assets to avoid liability. Labrador said the companies "conspired to rig prices and eliminate competition, forcing Idaho consumers to pay artificially inflated costs for critical medications," and urged Idahoans who bought the drugs to file claims. Idaho is also one of only two states in the coalition that secured restitution for affected businesses.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：位于奥古斯塔的缅因州议会大厦。图片来源：美国国会图书馆历史建筑测绘（HABS），公共领域。Photo: The Maine State House in Augusta. Image: Library of Congress, Historic American Buildings Survey, public domain.
