Court: United States District Court, District of Delaware
Case No.: 06-71GMS
WBE represented the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 572 and served as co-chair of the discovery committee in this antitrust class action brought against AstraZeneca LP and various related drug companies by third-party payors and consumers of the heart medication Toprol XL. The case alleged that, in violation of federal antitrust laws, as well as state unfair competition laws, AstraZeneca improperly manipulated patent filings and filed baseless patent infringement lawsuits in an effort to prevent market entry of generic versions of the drug Toprol-XL. On March 7, 2013, Judge Mary Pat Thynge granted final approval to a settlement that resulted in AstraZeneca paying up to $11 million to consumers and third-party payors who purchased Toprol XL or its generic, metoprolol succinate.