Home / Business and Economy / J&J Unit Settles Tracleer Antitrust Claim for $65M
J&J Unit Settles Tracleer Antitrust Claim for $65M
6 Mar
Summary
- Johnson & Johnson units to pay $65 million to settle antitrust claims.
- Lawsuit alleged delayed competition for a generic version of Tracleer.
- Settlement covers purchases in 31 states, DC, and Puerto Rico.
Johnson & Johnson subsidiaries Actelion Pharmaceuticals and Janssen Research & Development have agreed to a preliminary $65 million settlement in a proposed antitrust class action. This agreement aims to resolve claims that the companies overcharged health plans and others for the pulmonary hypertension drug Tracleer.
The lawsuit, filed in 2018, alleged that the drugmakers deliberately delayed the introduction of a generic version of Tracleer. Plaintiffs contended that by impeding competitors' access to drug samples, the companies effectively blocked a competing generic product from entering the market for a significant period.
The settlement proposal, which requires judicial approval, covers Tracleer purchases made between December 2015 and September 2024. This period spans nearly a decade and includes purchases made in 31 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
While the defendants denied any wrongdoing in agreeing to the settlement, lead plaintiffs' attorney stated it offers 'meaningful relief' for third-party payors who bought Tracleer and its generic. Plaintiffs' legal team plans to seek approximately $21 million for legal fees from the settlement fund.
