Walgreens, Kroger Sue Pharma Companies With Drug Collusion Claim

Walgreen Co., Kroger Co., and Albertsons Cos. Inc. accused two pharmaceutical companies Tuesday of conspiring to delay the generic version of a drug to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease and causing the retailers to pay more for the branded product.

Defendants Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. and TWi Pharmaceuticals Inc. allegedly engaged in a reverse payment deal in which TWi agreed to refrain from launching a generic version of Takeda’s Dexilant product until January 2022, according to a complaint in the US District Court for the Northern District of California.

H-E-B LP, a grocery chain based in Texas, is also ...