• West Virginia Attorney General's office distributed nearly $3.5 million to counties and cities from a settlement with Pfizer and Ranbaxy over delaying the generic version of Lipitor.
• The settlement funds are being distributed based on population size, with specific allocations for counties and municipalities.
• A portion of the settlement funds is designated for reimbursing healthcare costs and compensating individual consumers who overpaid for Lipitor during the delay.

West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey announced the distribution of nearly $3.5 million to West Virginia counties and municipalities. These funds are derived from a settlement reached in an antitrust lawsuit against Pfizer Inc. and Ranbaxy Inc. The lawsuit alleged that the pharmaceutical companies conspired to postpone the introduction of a cheaper, generic version of the cholesterol drug Lipitor for a period of 20 months. This action resulted in consumers paying higher prices for the brand-name drug. The settlement aims to compensate the affected communities and individuals and hold the companies accountable for their actions.

• What: Distribution of settlement funds to West Virginia counties and municipalities due to an antitrust lawsuit against Pfizer and Ranbaxy for delaying the release of a generic version of Lipitor.
• Who: West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey, Pfizer Inc., Ranbaxy Inc., West Virginia counties and municipalities, individual consumers of Lipitor, Putnam County Commissioner Andy Skidmore, St. Albans Mayor Scott James.
• When: Settlement distribution announced on Friday, May 2, 2025. Lipitor's original patent expired on March 24, 2010. Individual consumer claims are for the period from March 24, 2010, to Nov. 20, 2011.
• Where: West Virginia, specifically focusing on North Central West Virginia, Putnam County, and other municipalities throughout the state.

The distribution of settlement funds highlights the state's effort to address the impact of anticompetitive practices in the pharmaceutical industry. The focus on reimbursing healthcare costs and compensating consumers directly addresses the financial burden caused by the delayed release of generic Lipitor. The varying amounts received by different counties and municipalities reflect population size, ensuring a fairer distribution of resources. The establishment of a dedicated claims process for individual consumers further demonstrates a commitment to rectifying the harm caused by the pharmaceutical companies' actions. The involvement of state agencies like the Bureau for Medical Services and PEIA underscores the widespread impact of the issue.

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.

West Virginia's distribution of the $3.5 million Lipitor settlement, part of a larger $17 million settlement, marks a significant stride toward holding pharmaceutical companies accountable for anticompetitive practices that led to inflated drug prices. By allocating funds to counties, cities, and individual consumers impacted between March 24, 2010, and November 20, 2011, the state aims to alleviate the financial burden caused by the delayed availability of generic Lipitor. This action directly addresses the alleged conspiracy between Pfizer and Ranbaxy to postpone the release of a more affordable generic version, a move that kept prices artificially high. The establishment of a claims process for consumers, who may be eligible for up to $599, and the reimbursement of healthcare costs, including overpayments by Medicaid and PEIA, demonstrate a commitment to rectifying the financial consequences of these actions. While this settlement provides tangible relief and serves as a warning to pharmaceutical companies, West Virginia's efforts extend beyond this case, as seen in the state's ongoing scrutiny of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and its pursuit of transparent pharmaceutical pricing. Continued vigilance, coupled with proactive legislative measures and the pursuit of legal action where necessary, remain crucial to ensuring fair pricing, promoting competition, and safeguarding access to affordable medications for all West Virginians in the future.