Court: United States District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Meridian Health Plan of Michigan, Inc. v. Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC, et al., Case No.: 13-md-02445
Leadership Position: Interim Co-Lead Class Counsel
On March 26, 2013, WBE and its co-counsel filed a case on behalf of a class of end payors against Reckitt Benckiser for allegedly engaging in an anticompetitive scheme to exclude generic competition for its opiate treatment drug, Suboxone. Plaintiffs allege that approximately two years before generic competition for the Suboxone tablet was slated to begin, Reckitt began developing a different Suboxone formulation—an oral film—to destroy the market that existed for its original tablet product before generic competition could set in. Plaintiffs further allege that Reckitt filed sham citizen petitions with the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) to sabotage the FDA’s Abbreviated New Drug Application process for approving generic alternatives to further delay generic entry and buy time to convert consumers from the tablet to the film. The complaint alleges that absent Reckitt’s conduct, much cheaper generic versions of Suboxone would have been available to consumers almost four years earlier.
On September 26, 2019, the Court certified a class of consumers and third-party payors in 11 states to resolve the common question of whether Reckitt engaged in anticompetitive and deceptive conduct. On August 22, 2022, the Court denied Reckitt’s motion for summary judgment on all claims. On December 2023, after certifying an end-payor class, the Court granted final approval of a $30 million settlement.
To view a copy of the complaint, click here.
On September 26, 2019, the Court certified a class of consumers and third-party payors in 11 states to resolve the common question of whether Reckitt engaged in anticompetitive and deceptive conduct. On August 22, 2022, the Court denied Reckitt’s motion for summary judgment on all claims. Trial is scheduled to begin on September 18, 2023.
To view a copy of the complaint, click here.