In re: Seroquel XR (Extended Release Quetiapine Fumarate) Antitrust Litigation

On February 6, 2024, the court in In re: Seroquel XR (Extended Release Quetiapine Fumarate) Antitrust Litigation, No. 20-1076-CFC, certified a class of persons or entities who directly purchased 50mg, 150mg, 200mg, and/or 300mg strength of brand or generic Seroquel XR tablets between August 2, 2015 and April 30, 2017, and appointed Garwin Gerstein & Fisher LLP lead counsel for the class.  Defendants are (a) AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals L.P., AstraZeneca L.P. (collectively, “AstraZeneca”), (b) Handa Pharmaceuticals, LLC (“Handa”), and (c) Par Pharmaceutical, Inc. (“Par”).  Plaintiffs allege that Defendants violated the Sherman Act when AstraZeneca and its generic competitor, Handa, entered into an anticompetitive reverse payment settlement agreement delaying generic competition for Seroquel XR, thereby maintaining the price of Seroquel XR at supra-competitive levels.  Par joined the alleged illegal contract, combination and conspiracy in restraint of trade when it acquired the rights to Handa’s generic Seroquel XR.  Plaintiffs are seeking damages in the form of overcharges that class members paid to Defendants as a result of the misconduct.