US: Endo pays $2.3M to settle states antitrust claims

Endo Pharmaceuticals agreed to pay US$2.3 million to 18 states late last week, settling allegations that the drugmaker paid a competitor to keep a generic version of pain relief drug Lidoderm (Lidocaine patch 5%) off the market.

Endo Pharmaceuticals agreed to pay US$2.3 million to 18 states late last week, settling allegations that the drugmaker paid a competitor to keep a generic version of pain relief drug Lidoderm off the market.

Utah and the other states had accused Endo of entering into a reverse-payment agreement (a pay-for-delay agreement) with Watson Laboratories to obstruct generic competition to Lidoderm for more than a year.

“At the time of the Lidoderm agreement, Lidoderm was Endo’s most important branded prescription drug product. In 2011, Endo generated more than $825 million from its branded Lidoderm patches, comprising 30% of Endo’s total annual revenues,” alleged the states.

According to the claim, Endo paid Watson, which is now a Teva subsidiary, to not compete with Endo’s “lucrative” Lidoderm franchise.

In the separately filed settlement agreement, Endo denied that it engaged in any wrongful or unlawful conduct. Under the settlement, the drugmaker agreed to pay US$2.3 million to the states.