In 2014, Hagens Berman filed a class-action lawsuit alleging that Pfizer delayed generic competition for successful pain reliever Celebrex.
The litigation captioned In re Celebrex (Celecoxib) Antitrust Litigation (Civil Action No. 2:14-cv-00361) was previously before the Honorable Arenda L. Wright Allen of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
ALLEGATIONS AGAINST PFIZER
The lawsuit claims Pfizer violated federal antitrust laws by making misrepresentations and omitting material facts in proceedings before the United States Patent and Trademark Office in order to obtain a reissue patent covering Celebrex, and that asserting to the patent prevented generic versions of Celebrex from entering the United States market. The lawsuit alleges these actions were anticompetitive and caused plaintiffs and members of the class to incur significant damages. Pfizer denies each and every one of these allegations of unlawful conduct and has not conceded or admitted any liability as part of the proposed settlement.
TOP PHARMA LAW FIRM
Hagens Berman is one of the most successful litigation law firms in the U.S. taking on pharmaceutical companies and has achieved more than $320 billion in settlements against Big Pharma largest sellers and manufacturers for antitrust schemes, pay-for-delay, IP shams and other forms of wrongdoing that drive up the costs of prescription drugs for consumers and others.
CASE TIMELINE
Judge Arenda Wright Allen approved Plaintiffs’ Motion for Final Approval of Settlement. Claim forms will be issued to the class soon. Download the Order
Settlement to bring immediate benefit to direct purchasers, pending approval by the court
BOSTON – Hagens Berman today announced that the firm, as lead counsel representing a certified class of direct purchasers of branded and generic forms of the drug Celebrex (celecoxib), has reached a $94 million settlement of antitrust claims with Pfizer Inc.
In 2014, Hagens Berman filed a class-action lawsuit alleging that Pfizer delayed generic competition for successful pain reliever Celebrex. The lawsuit claims Pfizer violated federal antitrust laws by making misrepresentations and omitting material facts in proceedings before the United States Patent and Trademark Office in order to obtain a reissue patent covering Celebrex, and that asserting to the patent prevented generic versions of Celebrex from entering the United States market. The lawsuit alleges these actions were anticompetitive and caused plaintiffs and members of the class to incur significant damages. Pfizer denies each and every one of these allegations of unlawful conduct and has not conceded or admitted any liability as part of the proposed settlement.
The litigation captioned In re Celebrex (Celecoxib) Antitrust Litigation (Civil Action No. 2:14-cv-00361) is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia before the Honorable Arenda L. Wright Allen.
On Aug. 29, 2017, Judge Allen certified a litigation class of 32 direct purchasers of branded and generic Celebrex for purchases made between May 30, 2014 and Mar. 2, 2015. When the settlement was reached, the parties were preparing for trial in the Eastern District of Virginia, scheduled to start on Nov. 28, 2017. Under the proposed settlement, Pfizer will pay $94 million in cash to the class in exchange for a release of any liability.
According to attorneys for the class, the settlement will need to be reviewed and approved by Judge Allen before notice can be sent to class members. Final approval of the settlement by the court will also need to be granted prior to distribution of settlement proceeds to class members.
