Baxter (NYSE:BAX) said yesterday that it has been cleared from a U.S. Dept. of Justice antitrust probe, launched in 2017, investigating companies that market intravenous saline solutions. The probe came as hospitals endured a shortage of intravenous saline solutions, which are used to hydrate hospital patients. The shortage dates back to late 2013, after drugmakers told […]
U.S. Justice Dept.
Hospira, Baxter subpoenaed in antitrust probe over intravenous saline
Drugmakers received grand jury subpoenas from the U.S. Justice Dept. this week in connection with an antitrust probe into companies that market intravenous saline solutions. ICU Medical (NSDQ:ICUI), which recently acquired Hospira Infusion Systems from Pfizer (NYSE:PFE), and Baxter (NYSE:BAX) disclosed the subpoenas this week. Pfizer revealed that it is also wrapped up in the investigation, according […]
EpiPen purchasers level class action against Mylan over price hikes
Mylan (NSDQ:MYL) was hit with another class action lawsuit over the price of its EpiPen device yesterday. The lawsuit, which was filed in the Washington Western District Court, alleges that Mylan engaged in a scheme with pharmacy benefit managers to dominate the market and overcharge customers. Although the Canonsburg, Penn.-based company has been hit with several lawsuits […]
Shire to pay feds $350m to settle Dermagraft kickbacks case
The U.S. Justice Dept. said yesterday that Shire (NSDQ:SHPG) and its subsidiaries will cough up $350 million to settle allegations that Shire and the company it acquired in 2011, Advanced BioHealing, gave kickbacks to clinics and physicians in exchange for using its bioengineered human skin substitute, Dermagraft. “This settlement represents the largest False Claims Act recovery by the […]
Ex pharma execs first to be charged in generic drug pricing case
Former Heritage Pharmaceuticals CEO Jeffrey Glazer and ex-president Jason Malek were hit yesterday with the 1st criminal charges from a 2-year federal investigation in an ongoing generic drug pricing case. The 2 former executives were charged by federal authorities with price collusion for doxycycline hyclate, a widely used antibiotic, and a diabetes therapy called glyburide […]
Senate panel adds to call for hearings over Mylan’s EpiPen pricing
The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday called on the Federal Trade Commission to investigate whether Mylan (NSDQ:MYL) broke the law after reports claimed the EpiPen maker prevented schools from buying competing allergy treatments. In a letter penned to the FTC, committee chairman Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) and ranking member Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) wrote, “increasing patient access […]
UPDATE: BTG’s U.S. Biocompatibles business to pay $36m settlement, plead guilty to misbranding
Updated to include BTG’s guilty plea entered Nov 7. BTG (LON:BTG) said today that it agreed to pay the U.S. Justice Dept. $36 million (£28.4 million) to settle a probe into the marketing of the LC Bead embolization microspheres made by its Biocompatibles subsidiary. The company plead guilty on Monday, November 7, to charges of improperly marketing […]
Mylan, Teva crash on report that Justice Dept. could file charges in generic pricing probes
The U.S. Justice Dept. could reportedly file charges in its generic-drug pricing probe into companies including Mylan Pharmaceuticals (NSDQ:MYL) and Teva Pharmaceuticals (NYSE:TEVA) by the end of year. The department is examining whether the generic drug makers colluded on drug pricing, Bloomberg reported yesterday. The news source said that Mylan and Teva have disclosed subpoenas and are cooperating […]