Below are six legal actions involving members of the drug supply chain, including pharmaceutical manufacturers, pharmacies, pharmacists, patient charities, distributors and executives, reported by Becker's Hospital Review in the last week:
1. CVS, Walgreens sue Ohio physicians, claim they share blame for opioid crisis
Major retail pharmacy chains including CVS, Walgreens and Walmart are suing hundreds of physicians in Ohio, claiming they need to take responsibility for their part in the opioid epidemic.
2. Allergan settles pay-for-delay lawsuit for $300M
Allergan agreed to pay $300 million to settle a lawsuit claiming two of its subsidiaries, Warner Chilcott and Watson Pharmaceuticals, partnered in a pay-for-delay deal that violated antitrust laws, the drugmaker said Jan. 6.
3. Teva settles whistleblower lawsuit for $54M
Teva Pharmaceuticals agreed Jan. 6 to pay $54 million to settle a lawsuit claiming the drugmaker illegally paid physicians to boost prescriptions for two of its drugs.
4. Judge refuses to block California ban on 'pay-to-delay' deals
A federal judge declined to block a California law that bans pay-to-delay deals between drugmakers.
5. Lawsuit accuses Pfizer of concealing cancer-causing chemical in Zantac
A proposed class-action lawsuit was filed Jan. 2 accusing Pfizer of hiding the fact that Zantac, which it made from 2000 to 2006, contains a carcinogen.
6. New Mexico sues J&J, alleges it misled consumers about dangers of its talc products
The state of New Mexico is suing Johnson & Johnson, accusing the company of misleading consumers — children and black and Hispanic women in particular — about the safety of its talc products.