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Novartis Settles Antitrust Cases Over Exforge Drug Generics

By  |  December 29, 2022

Novartis AG said it will pay $245 million to end antitrust litigation accusing the Swiss drugmaker of trying to delay the launch in the United States of generic versions of its Exforge hypertension drug.

The settlements with so-called direct purchasers, indirect purchasers and retailers require approval by a federal judge in Manhattan, and will resolve all outstanding claims against the company over the matter, Novartis said.

Read more: Swiss Competition Watchdog Probes Novartis

CVS Health, Kroger, Rite Aid and Walgreens Boots Alliance are among the plaintiffs in the civil litigation, which began in 2018.

The class-action litigation stemmed from a 2011 licensing agreement between Novartis and Endo International’s Par Pharmaceutical unit.

Novartis and Par were accused of entering an illegal “reverse payment” agreement to delay launches of less expensive, generic versions of Exforge, which treats hypertension to lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of strokes.