COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced a $49.1 million settlement with two pharmaceutical companies that may entitle some consumers to compensation.

What You Need To Know

  • If you purchased generic prescription drugs between May 2009 and December 2019, you could be entitled to compensation

  • This comes after a settlement with two pharmaceutical companies, Ohio's attorney general announced

  • The companies were accused of a role in a scheme to inflate prices, limit competition and manipulate markets

“Apotex of Toronto and Heritage Pharmaceuticals of Eatontown, New Jersey, were accused of participating in a long-running scheme to artificially inflate prices, manipulate markets, and limit competition for numerous generic prescription drugs,” reads a release from Yost’s office.

Apotex will pay $39.1 million and Heritage Pharmaceuticals will pay $10 million.

“This was a conspiracy to cheat the system – we won’t tolerate collusion that inflates drug prices and harms Ohioans who rely on affordable medication,” Yost said in the release. “We are working to restore fair competition and hold wrongdoers accountable.”

Yost was one of many in a coalition of states and territories that filed multiple complaints—dating back to 2016—against dozens of corporate defendants and executives, according to the release.

According to Yost’s office, these cases were built on the evidence of witnesses and millions of documents and phone records.

“The complaints describe an interconnected network of industry executives who secretly met at dinners and social gatherings and on private calls, using coded language such as ‘fair share,’ ‘playing nice in the sandbox,’ and 'responsible competitor' to disguise illegal agreements," the release reads. "One key piece of evidence is a two-volume notebook kept by a cooperating witness, documenting secret discussions with competitors and internal meetings over several years.”

If you purchased generic prescription drugs between May 2009 and December 2019, you could be eligible for compensaton. You can learn more by visiting www.AGGenericDrugs.com, calling 1-866-290-0182 or emailing info@AGGenericDrugs.com.

“A major win in the fight against corporate greed, this settlement highlights Ohio’s commitment to protecting consumers from unlawful practices,” the release reads.