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Friday, March 29, 2024

Rhode Island city accuses pharmaceuticals companies of conspiracy

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Legal Newsline) - A Rhode Island city is suing several pharmaceuticals manufacturers, alleging they conspired to fix the prices of certain generic drugs.

The city of Providence Island, individually and for all others similarly situated, filed a class action lawsuit May 12 in U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island against Allergan PLC, Actavis PLC, Lannett Company Inc., Par Pharmaceutical Companies Inc., Impax Laboratories Inc., Mylan Inc. and West-Ward Pharmaceutical Corp., alleging violations of the Sherman Antitrust Act, the Clayton Antitrust Act, unjust enrichment and violations of state antitrust and consumer protection statutes.

The suit alleges the defendants entered into an unlawful agreement to fix, raise, maintain and stabilize the price of generic Doxycycline, a common antibiotic used to treat a wide variety of infections, and Digoxin, a widely prescribed medication used to treat atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter or heart failure.

According to the lawsuit, Doxycycline went from an average market price of $20 in October 2013 to $1,849 in April 2014. Similarly, Digoxin prices increased more than 800 percent in some instances from 2012 to the present. The suit alleges that the conspiracy related to these generic drugs may have been accomplished, in part, through trade organizations.

The plaintiff and others in the class seek a jury trial, treble damages, injunctive relief, interests, attorney fees and other costs of the suit. They are represented by attorneys Robert J. McConnell and Vincent L. Greene of Motley Rice in Providence.

U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island Case number 1:16-CV-00214-ML-PAS

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