Pennsylvania Sues Insulin Makers, PBMs Over Price Collusion
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday filed suit in Commonwealth Court against insulin manufacturers Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk and Sanofi-Aventis US, along with pharmacy benefit managers Express Scripts, CVS Caremark and Optum Rx, alleging collusion that inflated insulin prices by more than 1,000%. The Oct. 13 complaint cites violations of Pennsylvania's Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law, unjust enrichment and civil conspiracy. It seeks injunctive relief forcing structural changes to lower prices to "fair market" levels, plus restitution, civil penalties and costs. Pennsylvania joins Missouri, Delaware and Florida, which filed similar suits this year, as states escalate legal action against drug pricing and PBM practices affecting patients, including Medicaid beneficiaries.