WA consumers urged to claim compensation for inflated generic drug prices

Attorney General Nick Brown is urging Washington consumers and businesses to check their eligibility for compensation under a recent settlement for certain generic drug purchases and to submit a claim for compensation here.

Following litigation by Washington and a coalition of 47 other states and territories, the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut recently granted preliminary approval of a plan to distribute funds paid by generic drug manufacturers to settle claims they illegally conspired to raise generic drug prices.

"Washingtonians deserve fair pricing for the medications they need to stay healthy. This bipartisan agreement secures compensation for Washington consumers who were unlawfully overcharged," Brown said. "Our antitrust team is committed to holding Big Pharma accountable and making sure corporations follow the law."

The coalition previously announced settlements with the manufacturers Glenmark, Lannett, Bausch, Apotex, Heritage, and Heritage's parent company, Emcure, totaling approximately $96.5 million.

Washingtonians who purchased a generic drug listed here between May 2009 and December 2019, may be eligible for compensation. To determine eligibility, call 1-866-290-0182 (Toll-Free), email [email protected] or visit www.AGGenericDrugs.com.

Washington and Idaho were the only states in the coalition that also secured restitution for businesses impacted by this conspiracy. Businesses in Washington that indirectly bought one or more of the generic prescription drugs at issue in the states' cases or provided reimbursement for some or all of the purchase price may be eligible for compensation. The timeframe included in the settlement is May 2009 to December 2019. For more information, visit https://www.aggenericdrugs.com/English/CorporateEntities.

Washington is part of a coalition of nearly all states and territories that has been engaged in a series of antitrust cases related to generic drug prices since 2016, some of which are still ongoing.

The cases stem from a series of investigations built on evidence from cooperating witnesses at the core of the different conspiracies, millions of documents, and a massive phone record database. Each complaint addresses a different set of drugs and defendants, laying out an interconnected web of competing industry executives who regularly met and communicated with each other, providing ample opportunity to form illegal agreements.

In addition to Washington, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, 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, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming joined in today's announcement.

-30-

Washington's Attorney General serves the people and the state of Washington. As the state's largest law firm, the Attorney General's Office provides legal representation to every state agency, board, and commission in Washington. Additionally, the Office serves the people directly by enforcing consumer protection, civil rights, and environmental protection laws. The Office also prosecutes elder abuse, Medicaid fraud, and handles sexually violent predator cases in 38 of Washington's 39 counties. Visit www.atg.wa.gov to learn more.

Media Contact:

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (360) 753-2727

General contacts: Click here

Media Resource Guide & Attorney General's Office FAQ