On Tuesday, Indian pharma majors Dr Reddys, Workhardt, Aurobindo and Glenmark, which are among the generic drug makers are named in an anti-trust lawsuit in the US have denied allegations of engaging in conspiracy to fix prices. The home-based drug makers are among the 21 generic pharmaceutical firms and 15 other individual defendants against whom the Attorneys General of 49 US states, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia had filed a complaint with respect to 116 generic drugs in the US District Court for the District of Connecticut.

These companies have been accused of violating the antitrust laws by fixing prices and allocating customers. In individual clarifications to stock exchanges, the companies denied these accusations and stated that they would defend themselves in this matter.

Dr Reddy’s said that they intend to strongly defend against these allegations and are in the process of filing their response with the District Court of Connecticut. The company said its US subsidiary is specifically named as a defendant with respect to five generic drugs - Ciprofloxacin HCL tablets, Glimepiride tablets, Oxaprozin tablets, Paricalcitol and Tizanidine, for an alleged "overarching conspiracy".

Sun Pharma in a regulatory filing said that its subsidiary Taro Pharmaceuticals USA Inc has been named in the second lawsuit filed by the states. They further stated that the allegations made in these lawsuits are without merit and their concerned subsidiaries will continue to defend against them. The drug major has clarified that Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited has not been named in these litigations.

Wockhardt had also said anti-trust action relates to price hike of several generic drugs. The company had denied these accusation at appropriate Forum and is also vigorously defending against the matter.

Also, Glenmark said that in December 2016, a similar law suit was filed and the latest one included some of the parties from the first one as well as additional parties with allegations of fixing prices of additional products which are not referenced in the first law suit.

Glenmark further added that while the company is reviewing the second suit, they will file papers with the Federal Court in due course denying the accusations.

Aurobindo Pharma also said it is presently reviewing the second anti-trust law suit. They too will file papers with the Federal Court in due course denying each of the applicable accusations. They further stated that due to these matters, Aurobindo will not have a material impact on the Companys operations or business results.