缅因州加入45州联盟 与三家仿制药企就操纵药价指控达成和解 消费者可索赔
缅因州总检察长办公室10月8日宣布，总检察长阿伦·弗雷（Aaron M. Frey）已代表缅因州加入一个由45个州和属地组成的联盟，向法院申请批准与 Ascend Laboratories、Citron Pharma 和 Mayne Pharma 三家仿制药企业的和解，以解决三家企业涉嫌长期合谋人为抬高和操纵价格、削弱竞争并对众多仿制处方药贸易施加不合理限制的指控。
根据和解安排，Ascend 将向各州支付40万美元，Mayne 支付65万美元；Citron 因已停止营业，其和解只包括非金钱条款。三家公司均同意接受禁令性条款，包括推行一系列内部改革，以确保公平竞争并遵守反垄断法律。
缅因州总检察长办公室表示，在此之前，各州已与山德士（Sandoz）、Glenmark、Lannett、Bausch、Apotex、Heritage 及其母公司 Emcure 达成和解，总额达4.965亿美元。联盟针对其余被告的首场审判定于2027年2月在康涅狄格州Hartford举行。
根据总检察长办公室公布的信息，2009年5月至2019年12月期间在美国购买过相关仿制处方药的消费者，可能符合索赔资格，可通过电话 1-866-290-0182 或网站 AGGenericDrugs.com 查询资格并提交索赔。
10月20日，爱达荷州总检察长劳尔·拉布拉多（Raúl Labrador）宣布，爱达荷州已加入40多个州与领地，寻求法院批准与 Sandoz 及其旗下 Fougera 的4亿美元和解，以及与 Ascend、Citron、Mayne 分别达成的和解；根据协议及 Sandoz 此前与其他州达成的和解，Sandoz 将总共支付约4.69亿美元了结各州执法者的索赔，和解还涵盖对其关联公司（诺华集团、Sandoz AG、Sandoz Group AG）被指参与反竞争行为并转移资产逃避责任的指控。拉布拉多表示，这些公司「串通操纵价格、消灭竞争，迫使爱达荷州消费者为关键药品支付人为虚高的费用」，并呼吁购买过涉案仿制药的爱达荷州居民提交索赔。爱达荷州还是联盟中仅有的两个同时为受影响企业争取到赔偿的州之一。
Maine Joins 45-State Coalition in Settlements with Three Generic Drug Makers over Price-Fixing Allegations
The Maine Attorney General's Office announced on October 8 that Attorney General Aaron M. Frey joined a coalition of 45 states and territories in seeking court approval of settlements with Ascend Laboratories, Citron Pharma and Mayne Pharma, resolving allegations that the generic drug manufacturers engaged in a widespread, long-running conspiracy to artificially inflate and manipulate prices, reduce competition and unreasonably restrain trade for numerous generic prescription drugs.
Under the settlements, Ascend will pay $400,000 to the states and Mayne will pay $650,000. Citron's settlement includes only non-monetary terms, because the company has ceased business operations. Each company also agreed to injunctive terms, including a series of internal reforms to ensure fair competition and compliance with antitrust laws.
The Attorney General's Office said the states previously reached settlements with Sandoz, Glenmark, Lannett, Bausch, Apotex, Heritage and Heritage's parent company Emcure totaling $496.5 million. The coalition's first trial against the remaining defendants is set for February 2027 in Hartford, Connecticut.
Consumers who bought certain generic prescription drugs in the United States between May 2009 and December 2019 may be eligible for compensation, according to the Attorney General's Office, and can check eligibility and file a claim by calling 1-866-290-0182, emailing [email protected] or visiting AGGenericDrugs.com.
On October 20, Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador announced that Idaho had joined more than 40 states and territories in seeking court approval of a $400 million settlement with Sandoz and its Fougera unit, along with separate settlements with Ascend, Citron and Mayne. Under the agreements and Sandoz's earlier settlements with other states, Sandoz will pay a total of approximately $469 million to resolve the state enforcers' claims, also covering allegations that its affiliates (Novartis AG, Sandoz AG and Sandoz Group AG) took part in the alleged anticompetitive conduct and fraudulently transferred assets to avoid liability. Labrador said the companies "conspired to rig prices and eliminate competition, forcing Idaho consumers to pay artificially inflated costs for critical medications," and urged Idahoans who bought the drugs to file claims. Idaho is also one of only two states in the coalition that secured restitution for affected businesses.
发布：GSM·美国（发布链接）
图片来源：图：位于奥古斯塔的缅因州议会大厦。图片来源：美国国会图书馆历史建筑测绘（HABS），公共领域。Photo: The Maine State House in Augusta. Image: Library of Congress, Historic American Buildings Survey, public domain.
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