US charges generic drug firm Glenmark with price-fixing

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals USA was charged on Tuesday with conspiring to fix prices for generic drugs, the U.S. Justice Department said in a statement.

Glenmark allegedly conspired with pharmaceutical maker Apotex Corp and other generic drug companies to increase the prices of cholesterol medication pravastatin and other generic drugs, the department said.

Glenmark said it strongly disagreed with the charge. “We will continue to vigorously defend against these allegations that we know to be false, and we are confident the overwhelming evidence will make that clear,” the company said in a statement.

While speaking with CNBC-TV18, Glenmark said, "We strongly disagree with the charges being advanced by the Justice Department and do not believe the evidence supports the government’s case.  These charges run contrary to the very essence of Glenmark – to drive down drug prices and improve patient access to medications."