Toprol XL (metoprolol succinate) Class Action Lawsuit Settlement

Toprol XL (Metoprolol Succinate) Class Action Settlement

By Matt O’Donnell

AstraZeneca has reached an $11 million class action lawsuit settlement involving the heart medication Toprol XL and its generic equivalent, metoprolol succinate. Consumers, insurers and employee welfare benefit plans that purchased, paid for and/or reimbursed others for these drugs between 2005 and 2012 may be eligible to receive a cash refund from the Toprol XL class action settlement.

The Toprol XL settlement will resolve a class action lawsuit, titled In re: Metoprolol Succinate End-Payor Antitrust Litigation, accusing AstraZeneca of using patent filings and lawsuits against its competitors to stop them from selling a low-cost generic version of its prescription drug, Toprol XL. According to the class action lawsuit, this conduct violated federal and state antitrust laws and consumer protection laws by delaying the entry into the market of low cost generic versions of Toprol XL.

AstraZeneca denies any wrong doing but has agreed to an $11 million class action lawsuit settlement to resolve the litigation. This case does not involve the safety or effectiveness of Toprol XL or its generics.

Class Members of the Toprol XL/metoprolol succinate class action settlement include all persons or entities throughout the United States and its territories who purchased, paid for and/or reimbursed others for Toprol XL or its generic equivalent metoprolol succinate, intended for consumption by themselves, their families or their members, employees, plan participants, beneficiaries or insureds at any time from May 5, 2005 through September 27, 2012.

Purchases made directly from the Defendants are not included.  Governmental entities also are excluded (except government funded employee benefit plans).

“Purchased” in this case means you paid all or a part of the cost of the drug, e.g., via a co-payment.  If insurance did not pay for the whole amount of the drug, you are included.  However:

— If your co-payment amounts for Toprol XL and its generic were the same, you are not included.

— If you purchased Toprol XL – and not a generic – after a generic became available (November 20, 2006 (25 mg dosage); July 26, 2007 (100 mg and 200 mg dosages); and August 2, 2007 (50 mg dosage)), you are not included.

Class Members that submit a valid Claim Form by the deadline of April 1, 2013 will receive a cash refund based on how much they paid for Toprol XL or generic metoprolol succinate and when they paid it, as well as on how much was paid by other Class Members who file valid claims, and when they paid it. For insured consumers, estimated damages were highest during 2005-2007.  For uninsured consumers, estimated damages were highest during 2005-2008.  More details are in the Plan of Allocation which is available on the Court Documents tab on www.ToprolSettlement.com.

Claim Forms and more information on your rights in the AstraZeneca Toprol XL Class Action Lawsuit Settlement can be found at www.ToprolSettlement.com. Detailed claims filing instructions can be found in our Open Lawsuit Settlements section.

UPDATE: Settlement checks were mailed to eligible Class Members on Nov. 22, 2013. Congratulation to our Top Class Actions readers who submitted a valid claim and got PAID!

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