• West Virginia distributed $3.5 million to counties and cities from a settlement with Pfizer and Ranbaxy regarding delayed generic Lipitor.
• The lawsuit alleged Pfizer and Ranbaxy delayed the generic version of Lipitor for 20 months, increasing costs for PEIA.
• Individuals who purchased Lipitor between March 24, 2010, and November 20, 2011, may be eligible to file a claim for reimbursement.

West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey announced the distribution of nearly $3.5 million to West Virginia counties and cities as part of a settlement reached in an antitrust lawsuit against Pfizer and Ranbaxy. The lawsuit alleged that the two companies conspired to delay the release of a generic version of the cholesterol drug Lipitor for 20 months, resulting in increased costs for the state's Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA) and consumers. The settlement aims to reimburse the state, its agencies, and its citizens for the financial impact of this delay.

• What: Distribution of settlement funds from an antitrust lawsuit against Pfizer and Ranbaxy regarding delayed release of generic Lipitor.
• Who: West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey, Pfizer Inc., Ranbaxy Inc., West Virginia counties and cities, PEIA members, individual Lipitor consumers.
• When: Settlement announced and funds distributed on May 3, 2025. The delayed generic Lipitor release occurred for 20 months. Consumers eligible for reimbursement purchased Lipitor between March 24, 2010, and November 20, 2011.
• Where: West Virginia, specifically impacting counties and cities within the state.

The settlement addresses the financial harm caused by the delayed release of generic Lipitor, impacting both state agencies and individual consumers. The distribution of funds aims to alleviate the burden on PEIA and reimburse healthcare costs for counties and municipalities. The eligibility of individual consumers to file claims further underscores the broad impact of the pharmaceutical companies' actions. The attorney general's emphasis on accountability highlights the importance of ensuring fair pricing and access to affordable medications.

This settlement is about holding pharmaceutical companies accountable for putting their bottom line before people. No drug company should withhold a less expensive medication to treat chronic conditions just to make their stakeholders richer. That is completely unacceptable, and this settlement is one step in the right direction.

What we’re really hopeful for here is that these $50,000, $60,000, $80,000 dollar checks that are going out to all of our counties and cities as part of our consumer protection division will go a long way to helping ease the burden of PEIA on the employees of our cities and our counties.

And the money that we’re receiving through this is going to help us not put the burden on the employees and allow us to eat the majority of the costs, if not all the costs of PEIA increase.

It means everything because this is going to allow us not to put a burden on our employees

The distribution of settlement funds to West Virginia counties, cities, and individuals marks a significant step in addressing the financial consequences of the delayed generic Lipitor release. While the settlement provides immediate relief, ongoing monitoring and enforcement are crucial to prevent similar antitrust violations in the future. The attorney general's office will continue to establish the claims process for individual consumers, ensuring a fair and accessible means of reimbursement.