Merck Discloses $573 Million Settlement in Zetia Antitrust Suit

Merck & Co. has paid $573 million to settle claims that the pharmaceutical manufacturer and Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd. had a deal to delay a generic version of the cholesterol drug Zetia.

Merck, which disclosed the amount in its first quarter financial results posted Thursday, said its quarterly earnings per share reflected a charge “related to settlements with certain plaintiffs in the Zetia antitrust litigation.”

A Merck spokesperson declined to comment.

Health insurers and pharmacies sued Merck and Glenmark with claims that the companies struck an anti-competitive deal that violated antitrust laws. Merck dropped a patent infringement case against Glenmark and ...