The antitrust trial involving Gilead and Teva over inflated HIV drug prices is set to begin on Thursday. However, the two drugmakers reached a last-minute agreement with major pharmacies, and Gilead settled with direct purchasers. The remaining claims will be taken to a California federal jury.
U.S. District Judge Edward M. Chen has announced settlements ahead of Thursday’s openings, reported Law360. The settlements resolve claims against Gilead and Teva by retailer plaintiffs such as Walgreens, CVS and Rite Aid, and claims against Gilead by two classes of direct purchaser plaintiffs, which include KPH Healthcare Services Inc.
The plaintiffs have claimed that Gilead and Teva entered into an agreement that hindered the entry of generic drug makers into the market for specific HIV drugs, leading to higher drug costs and a breach of federal antitrust laws.
Read more: Gilead And Teva’s HIV Antitrust Trial Begins
Following the legal confirmation of settlements with a Gilead lawyer, Judge Chen expressed satisfaction with the outcome.
“It seemed to me that it makes imminent sense to resolve this case … given the huge range of potential outcomes,” the judge said, adding that the mediator “has done a masterful job.”
The trial then went forward with the remaining plaintiffs: United Healthcare Services, individual health plan purchasers and indirect purchaser classes.
