Endo Wins Against Opana Purchasers’ Antitrust Claims

A jury on Friday sided with drugmaker Endo International Plc against purchasers of its opioid painkiller Opana ER who had accused it of delaying the launch of a generic version of the drug through an illegal deal with a competitor.

The jury in Chicago federal court rejected claims by a class of purchasers that bought from Opana directly, led by drug wholesalers; a class of indirect purchasers, led by several employee health plans and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana; and several individual retailers including Walgreens Boots Alliance and Kroger Co.

“Endo is very pleased with the jury’s verdict and is grateful for its careful deliberation,” Endo Chief Legal Officer Matthew Maletta said in a statement.

The litigation, which began in 2014, centers on a 2008 settlement between Endo and generic drugmaker Impax Laboratories, which is now owned by Amneal Pharmaceuticals.

Impax was originally a defendant as well but settled during trial.

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