Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) subsidiaries Actelion Pharmaceuticals and Janssen Research & Development have agreed to pay $65M to settle a proposed antitrust class action suit related to J&J’s (JNJ) lung disorder therapy, Tracleer.
The settlement between J&J (JNJ) units and plaintiffs, including the Government Employees Health Association, requires approval from a judge, Reuters reported, citing a court document submitted on Wednesday.
The lawsuit filed in the federal court in Maryland alleged that the companies delayed the market entry of generics against Tracleer, an oral prescription medicine used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension.
By hindering access to samples of Tracleer, JNJ units “effectively blocked competitors from bringing a competing generic product to market for a period of time,” said the plaintiffs, a group comprising entities that purchased the medication or reimbursed their members for its costs.
The class action covers Tracleer sales that occurred in 31 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico during a period from December 2015 to September 2024.