Drugmakers to pay $70 million over deals to keep cheap generics off the market

Enlarge / A Teva facility in France. (credit: Getty | Fred Dufour)

With four settlement agreements, the state of California will get nearly $70 million from pharmaceutical companies that allegedly cut illegal deals to keep affordable generic drugs off the market, shielding pricey brand-name products from competition.

The settlements also include injunctions that temporarily prevent the drugmakers from entering into such "pay-for-delay."

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra argued that the deals violate antitrust laws and can lead consumers to pay as much as 90% more for prescription drugs.

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