Drugs

Teva Charged in Generic Drug Price Fixing

The Justice Department says Teva is the seventh generic drug manufacturer to be charged with conspiring to fix prices, rig bids, and allocate customers for generic drugs. A department statement says a superseding indictment filed 8/25 in a Pennsylvania federal court alleges that the company participated in three conspiracies from at least as early as 5/2013 until at least on or around 12/2015.

The first count in the indictment charges Teva with conspiring with Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, Apotex, and others to agree to increase prices for pravastatin and other generic drugs.

Count two alleges a conspiracy with Taro involving drugs used to treat and manage arthritis, seizures, pain, skin conditions, and blood clots.

Count three relates to Teva’s role in a conspiracy with Sandoz involving drugs used to treat cancer, cystic fibrosis, arthritis, and hypertension.

The department says that five other previous corporate cases were resolved by deferred prosecution agreements, while Glenmark is awaiting trial. Four executives from various companies also have been charged, the department says, with three pleading guilty and one awaiting trial.

Each of the charged offenses carries a statutory maximum penalty of $100 million for companies. The maximum fine may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the crime’s victims if either amount is greater than $100 million.

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