Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has announced that the state will receive a portion of $17.85 million in multistate settlements resolving allegations that two pharmaceutical companies, Lannett Company, Inc. and Bausch Health US, LLC, conspired to inflate prices and stifle competition for generic prescription drugs.
The agreements, reached in collaboration with 47 other states and territories, resolve long-running antitrust investigations into claims that the companies coordinated to manipulate drug prices, allocate markets, and restrict fair competition in violation of state and federal law.
“These settlements mark a significant win for Arizona consumers who have been overcharged for years,” Mayes said in announcing the action. “Pharmaceutical companies that fix prices and exploit patients will be held accountable.”
In addition to the settlements, Arizona joined 42 states and territories in filing a new lawsuit against Novartis AG and its subsidiaries Sandoz Group AG and Sandoz AG. The complaint alleges that the companies conspired with other generic manufacturers to fix prices for more than 30 drugs and attempted to shield assets through fraudulent corporate restructuring to avoid liability.
As part of the settlements, Lannett and Bausch have agreed to cooperate with the ongoing multistate antitrust litigation led by Connecticut Office of the Attorney General. The broader investigation, which began in 2016, targets more than 30 corporate defendants and dozens of executives accused of coordinating price-fixing through secret communications, private meetings, and social gatherings within the pharmaceutical industry.
The recovered funds will help reimburse consumers and state health programs affected by the inflated prices. Arizonans who purchased generic drugs from Lannett or Bausch between 2009 and 2019 may be eligible for compensation through AGGenericDrugs.com.
The multistate effort continues to prepare for its first trial, expected in late 2026 in Hartford, Connecticut, as regulators nationwide press forward in holding drug manufacturers accountable for alleged market collusion and anticompetitive conduct.
