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Loading ...Appeals court rules for Abbott in AIDS drug case
07.08.2009 9:03am EDT
(San Francisco) A federal appeals court has rejected a lawsuit accusing Abbott Laboratories of antitrust violations over a sudden 400-percent price hike of a popular AIDS drug.
Advocacy groups and drug benefit providers sued Abbott in 2004. They alleged the North Chicago, Ill., drugmaker raised the price of the HIV-fighting Norvir to stifle competition and boost sales of its own alternative, Kaletra.The company paid $10 million to settle the lawsuit and agreed to let the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals still determine if the price hike was an illegal business practice.
The court ruled in Abbott’s favor Tuesday. If it had lost, Abbott would have had to pay an additional $17.5 million.
A lawyer for the advocacy groups says they’re weighing whether to appeal the decision.
Ah, good old American greed. Wherever this is a deep human need there is a buck to be made. Abbott should be ashamed of themselves.
400% increase?!?!? How the hell did the judge let them off? Yes, I do believe that most of the world is GREEDY. I’m waiting for us, to have to pay for the air we breathe. We already have to pay for water, which used to be free, what’s next?
A suggestion for everyone. When you need to buy any kind of off the shelf medicine, check the manufacturer. If it is Abbott find an alternative. Money talks, especially to the Greed!
@ R&R–Amen!
Abbott profiting and/or profiteering at the expense of the ill and the suffering. Nice company! “Pin its ears back” with a customer boycott!
Sadly, people on HIV meds cannot just switch or boycott them at whim or to make a statement. Still, a listing of teh drugs that Abbott makes would be helpful. I’d be happy to boycott those.
Anyone know of a way to find a list of drugs Abbott produces? – I’ll be sure to supply the list to my medical provider to insure I do not support this greedy drug producer! BOYCOTT! Without insurance coverage most Americans cannot afford the outlandish price of drugs and companies that do provide health insurance are cutting coverage due to ever increasing costs by greedy providers like this. TIME TO STOP THEIR RIDICULOUS OBSCENE PROFITS at the expense of sick humans!!!!!