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Gilead, Bristol-Myers HIV Drug Class Action Settlement Overview:
- Why: The companies are accused of inflating prices of generic HIV treatments and keeping them off the market.
- Who: A group of buyers of certain HIV therapy drugs, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead Sciences, and Janssen Pharmaceuticals have reached a settlement.
- Where: The class action settlement is pending in California federal court.
Gilead Sciences, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Janssen Pharmaceuticals and a group of consumers who accused the companies of conspiring to keep certain HIV therapy drugs off the market and at high prices have reached a $10 million class action settlement.
The settlement will pay $10 million to the end payor plaintiffs, or a group of individuals who bought several combination HIV therapy drugs. Of that $10 million, $1.25 million will go to consumer members of the proposed Class of Evotaz purchasers. Plaintiffs will also receive up to $200,000 for providing notice to potential other class members, a sum of which Bristol-Myers has agreed to pay half.
The deal also includes “significant injunctive relief” which will prevent Bristol-Myers from continuing its alleged practice, along with Gilead Sciences, of withholding the generic product Evotaz from the market. Without this injunction, Bristol-Meyers’ agreement with Gilead Sciences would have kept the drug inaccessible until at least September 2029.
The settlement was negotiated in “good faith” and at “arm’s length,” as is required, and “secures an excellent result for the Class.” However, the document maintains Bristol-Myers’ displeasure with the complaints’ characterizations of Bristol-Myers’ conduct and its collaboration with Gilead Sciences.
The parties have submitted the deal to US District Judge Edward M. Chen for preliminary approval.
Gilead, Bristol-Myers Accused of Choosing Profits Over Patients in Class Action
Lead plaintiff Peter Staley filed the class action lawsuit against Gilead in August 2019. He claimed the company’s inflated drug costs priced more than 400,000 people in the US out of their necessary HIV medications.
Gilead allegedly held a monopoly on HIV drug patents, the company has been able to charge high premiums for these medications. The class action also claimed that Gilead has violated state and federal laws by allegedly scheming with other drug manufacturers to prevent them from creating generic versions of these drugs, even after the patents on them expired.
What do you think of this settlement between the pharmaceutical companies and affected consumers? Sound off in the comments section below!
The plaintiff is represented by Steve D. Shadowen of Hilliard & Shadowen LLP, Daralyn J. Durie of Durie Tangri LLP, and Steve W. Berman of Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP.
The Gilead HIV Drug Class Action Settlement is Staley, et al. v. Gilead Sciences Inc., et al., Case No. 3:19-cv-02573-EMC, in the US District Court for the Northern District of California.
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4 thoughts onGilead, Bristol-Myers, Pharma Companies Reach $10M Class Action Settlement After HIV Drug Conspiracy Accusations
My Mother checked into the Hospital passed November 13 2020 had 3-4 rounds of Veklury, or remdesivir and got worse every time. They killed our Beautiful Mom with this .She checked herself in because she got Covid19 the day BEFORE Thanksgiving she PASSED AWAY in the Hospital. We where NOT ALLOWED TO SAY GOODBYE. Crimes against humanity. Can you PLEASE HELP US? Please.
my wife went in Hospital passed feb 3rd had 3 rounds of Veklury, or remdesivir and got worse every time. They killed my wife with this . she had internal bleeding and died from blood clots. was a healthy person when she got Covid19 35 days in the Hospital.
My mom went into hospital with mild Covid symptoms and died 5-6 days later after being administered remdesivir. December 2021.
please add me