Drugmakers Fail to Shed Collusion Claims From Walgreens, Kroger

Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. and TWi Pharmaceuticals Inc. will face the majority of claims brought by major retailers in an antitrust suit alleging the drugmakers colluded to delay the generic version of medicine that treats gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley of the US District Court for the Northern District of California on Feb. 6 denied the pharmaceutical companies’ motion to dismiss a “reverse payment” claim from the plaintiffs—Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc., Kroger Co., and Albertsons Cos.—alleging Takeda paid TWi $9.5 million to refrain from launching the generic version of Takeda’s Dexilant product until January 2022. ...