Direct Purchaser Groups Sue Drug Firms, Claim Brand-Generic Nexium Pacts Flout Law

A recent appeals court ruling finding that pay-for-delay agreements between branded and generic drug companies are presumptively unlawful restraints of trade has triggered the filing of three new private antitrust lawsuits against drugmaker AstraZeneca and multiple generic companies (Meijer Inc. v. AstraZeneca AB; Professional Drug Co. v. AstraZeneca AB; Value Drug Co. v. AstraZeneca PLC).

The complaints, brought by different groups of direct purchasers of Astra’s proton pump inhibitor Nexium, were filed in federal court in New Jersey and Massachusetts between Aug. 27 and Sept. 4. The suits, which are styled as proposed class actions, allege ...