Attorney General Rayfield Holds Drug Company Accountable for Driving Up Costs of Medications

Companies colluded to increase prices and pad their profits—Oregon consumers may be eligible for money

Today’s announcement stems from allegations that Sandoz worked with other drug companies to push up prices and shut out competition on dozens of common generic medications, costing patients, families, and taxpayers across the country. AG Rayfield has asked a federal judge to approve the resolution.

“These companies are finally being held accountable for the harm they’ve caused to Oregon families,” says Attorney General Rayfield. “We are making sure that they’re repaying patients and taxpayers, and ensuring that they are never again able to work in secret to drive up costs on the backs of struggling families.”

Under the settlement, which is the result of allegations made by Oregon and 42 other states and territories, Sandoz would pay $400 million. Combined with earlier resolutions the corporation has reached, Sandoz would pay about $469 million in total. Oregon could receive approximately $4.76 million: $1.8 million in damages, Medicaid reimbursements, and other agency recoveries, and an estimated $2.96 million for eligible consumers who were harmed.

If you bought certain generic prescription drugs in the U.S. between May 2009 and December 2019, you may be eligible for compensation. To find out and file a claim:

Additionally, the resolution requires Sandoz to change how it does business, including internal reforms to make sure it competes fairly and follows antitrust law, so that this doesn’t happen again to struggling families. The settlement also resolves claims against Sandoz’s current and former parent and sister companies overseas, including Novartis, which the states say shared responsibility and moved money around to avoid paying.