Endo, Impax Beat Bid for Special Procedures at Antitrust Trial

Endo International Plc and Impax Laboratories LLC will face an ordinary class action trial over allegations they schemed to block generic versions of the painkiller Opana ER, a federal judge in Chicago ruled, denying a bid for separate trials of claims by direct and indirect purchasers.

Judge Harry D. Leinenweber rejected a motion by the Opana purchasers leading the case to establish ad hoc “trifurcated” trial proceedings in an effort to avoid prejudicing the claims of drug distributors with evidence that they passed on overcharges to end payers like consumers and health plans.

Leinenweber, writing for the U.S. District Court ...