Below are 12 legal actions involving members of the drug supply chain, including pharmaceutical manufacturers, pharmacy benefit managers, pharmacies, pharmacists, distributors and the FDA, reported by Becker's Hospital Review in the last two months:
1. European physician sues FDA in seizure of abortion drugs
A European physician filed a lawsuit Sept. 9 against the FDA and other government officials, accusing them of seizing some of the abortion pills she prescribed to U.S. patients.
2. Mallinckrodt sidesteps bellwether opioid trial with $30M deal
Mallinckrodt agreed to a $30 million deal to settle an opioid lawsuit filed against them by two Ohio counties chosen to serve as bellwethers in multidistrict litigation over the opioid epidemic. Under the deal, the drugmaker will pay $24 million cash and donate up to $6 million of generic drugs to the counties to help alleviate the opioid crisis.
3. Mallinckrodt to pay $15M to resolve whistleblower allegations
Mallinckrodt has agreed to pay $15.4 million to resolve whistleblower allegations that the drugmaker paid physicians illegal kickbacks to boost prescriptions of its pricey H.P. Acthar Gel, the U.S. Justice Department said.
4. Dozens of Texas hospitals sue drug industry players over opioid epidemic
Dozens of hospitals in Texas filed a lawsuit Sept. 3, accusing pharmaceutical companies and pharmacy giants of fueling the opioid crisis in the state.
5. Allergan to pay $5M to settle opioid suit
Allergan agreed to pay $5 million to settle allegations that it helped fuel the national opioid crisis. The settlement allows Allergan to sidestep a potentially damaging opioid trial set to begin next month.
6. Michigan specialty pharmacy settles class-action suit for $14.1M
Flint, Mich.-based Diplomat Pharmacy will pay $14.1 million to settle a class-action lawsuit that accused the company of misleading thousands of investors.
7. Endo agrees to $11M settlement in opioid case, avoids bellwether trial
Endo Pharmaceuticals has agreed to an $11 million settlement to resolve claims that the drugmaker helped fuel the opioid epidemic. The settlement allows Endo to sidestep a potentially damaging opioid trial set to begin in October.
8. PharmacyChecker hits pharma associations with antitrust suit
PharmacyChecker.com, an online pharmacy verification service provider, accused several pharmaceutical associations of reaching agreements with online gatekeepers like Google and Bing to suppress its online presence.
9. Celgene to pay $55M to settle class-action suit alleging cancer drug monopoly
New Jersey-based Celgene will pay $55 million to resolve a class-action suit that accused the drugmaker of blocking generic competition in the cancer market at the expense of patients.
10. Sun Pharma sales rep files retaliation lawsuit: 5 things to know
A former sales representative for Sun Pharmaceuticals filed a retaliation lawsuit against the drugmaker, claiming he was fired for complaining about its marketing tactics
11. Drugmakers settle cases over delayed generics for nearly $70M
Teva Pharmaceuticals and Endo International will pay nearly $70 million to California to settle a lawsuit accusing them of striking agreements to delay generic drugs from entering the market. A third drugmaker, Teikoku Pharma, is subject to an injunction as part of the settlement.
12. UK firm agrees to record $1.4B payout in US opioid fraud lawsuit
Reckitt Benckiser Group, a U.K. consumer goods company, will pay $1.4 billion to the U.S. government to resolve allegations that the company profited by deceiving healthcare providers about the safety of its opioid addiction treatment.