Teva pays $1.2 billion to settle pay-for-delay allegations
Source: AP
WASHINGTON (AP) Federal regulators say Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries will pay $1.2 billion to settle charges that one of its subsidiaries illegally blocked the launch of generic versions of the blockbuster sleeping pill Provigil.
The settlement announced Thursday is a major victory in the government's campaign against a common drug industry practice known as "pay-for-delay" deals. Drugmakers have long maintained the deals help resolve costly patent litigation between branded drugmakers and their generic counterparts. But Federal Trade Commission officials say the agreements keep cheaper forms of medicines off the market, driving up costs for consumers.
The FTC settlement stems from charges brought in 2008 against Cephalon Inc., which was acquired by Teva in 2012. The FTC alleged that Cephalon paid four generic firms over $300 million to delay launching their drugs until 2012.
Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/0e7a9ceff1cb4313b260bad87d6e9797/teva-pays-12-billion-settle-pay-delay-allegations
CountAllVotes
(20,868 posts)If you take one of these pills, you might be wide awake for as long as two days!
If is given to people that suffer from severe fatigue and sleep disorders!!
CountAllVotes
(20,868 posts)n/t
Kali
(55,007 posts)that sells those river sandals that make your feet stink.
JustABozoOnThisBus
(23,339 posts)I thought it was my feet that made the Teva sandals stink.
Good to know it's not my fault!
I don't know anything about the drug company or that drug, but good to know the govt is helping get the generic version to market.
Kali
(55,007 posts)good shoes (well don't get me started on the too short straps) but never had a pair that didn't stink, and I have worn them since they first came out.
drm604
(16,230 posts)Misbehaving companies need to be hit with penalties that hurt rather than token slap-on-the-wrist amounts. This will make them think twice about doing similar things in the future, and it will send a message to others who may be doing, or contemplating doing, similar things.