CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey announced Monday his office has joined an antitrust lawsuit against six generic drug manufacturers.
The suit filed in United States District Court of Connecticut named Heritage Pharmaceuticals, Aurobindo Pharma USA, Citron Pharma, Mayne Pharma, Mylan Pharmaceuticals and Teva Pharmaceuticals USA as defendants. It is associated with a case involving the state of Connecticut.
According to a press release, the companies allegedly fixed prices, coordinated with each other and allocated markets. It comes following a non-public, on-going investigation by the state of Connecticut into price increases.
“This anticompetitive conduct — schemes to fix and maintain prices, allocate markets and otherwise thwart competition – has caused a significant, lasting and ultimately harmful rippling effect in the United States healthcare system, which is still ongoing today,” the lawsuit said.
Morrisey said in a video release the allegations are “deeply troubling.”
“I’m going to do everything in my power to protect West Virginia consumers from anti-competitive behavior,” he added.
The complaint focuses on two drugs: Doxy DR, an antibiotic, and Glyburide, an oral medication that controls blood sugar levels.
Arkansas, Washington, D.C., Missouri and New Mexico are also involved in the suit.