Calif. pharmacies sue drug makers, alleging price fixing

[Kadie]

Calif. pharmacies sue drug makers, alleging price fixing

PAUL ELIAS, AP Biotechnology Writer
Thursday, August 26, 2004


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(08-26) 15:47 PDT (AP) --

SAN FRANCISCO(AP) -- Nineteen California pharmacies filed a lawsuit in state court Thursday accusing the world's largest pharmaceutical companies of conspiring to inflate U.S. drug prices.

The pharmacies accuse the 15 drug makers of illegally conspiring to charge inflated prices in the United States while barring pharmacies from buying the makers' drugs at lower prices outside the country.

"We are being charged higher prices than foreigners are being charged," said Joseph Alioto, the San Francisco attorney representing the pharmacies. "If we are selling the same drug we want to pay the same prices as everyone else."

Alioto filed the suit in Alameda County Superior Court in Oakland. The suit alleges the pharmaceutical companies have hurt the pharmacies' bottom lines by violating California's antitrust and unfair business practices laws.

more...
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2004/08/26/financial1718EDT0139.DTL

[acmavm]

1. Nice try, but we all know that the fix is in. I have no faith in the

courts anymore.

[Shallah Kali]

2. Good! I am glad they are trying and hope they succede

I really really do. I have relatives who struggle to pay for medications that keep them alive.

[Sub Atomic]

3. Funny that nobody mentions that we pay twice.

Pharmaceutical research & development is federally funded, coming out of our pockets every single day.

Then they have the cojones to charge us more than any other country.

Fuckers.

[indepat]

4. I thought the Congress had blessed "drug fixing," had literally screwed

most Americans through the gigantic give-a-way to the pharmaceutical industry and the prohibition against bargaining for better prices.

[happynewyear]

5. gee well Alioto has his name back in the news anyway

good luck fighting this one Joe, you'll need it.

The "fix" is already done and gone. Next year, I must buy via mail order. If I don't it will be cheaper to have the prescriptions filled at COSTCO rather than the local pharmacy I've been dealing with. Same goes for many other State retirees here in Calif. I saw a post about this the other day from yet another infuriated policy holder!

Too little too late as usual.

Don't think the mob will help this time around Joe.

:dem: :kick:

[BrotherBuzz]

6. This is his grandson...

and he's just trying to make his bone. Yes, the fix is in and this lawsuit ain't going nowhere, but give young Joe kudos for chasing the windmill.

[happynewyear]

7. I know who it is

and they are one big Mafioso family, believe an old San Franciscan if you dare. :evilgrin:

[Art_from_Ark]

8. Gouging California is becoming a cottage industry

Enron et al with the energy scam;
Microshaft with its overpriced software;
pharma companies with their price fixing

What else?