Ala. settles suits with 6 drug firms for $89M

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MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Six prescription drug manufacturers have settled Medicaid drug pricing lawsuits with the state of Alabama for $89 million.

Attorney General Troy King announced Friday that the settlements were reached with Abbott Laboratories, Aventis Pharmaceutical L.P., TEVA Pharmaceuticals USA, Shering-Plough/Warrick Companies, Forest Laboratories and Baxter International.

King only released the total amount of the settlements and did not say how much each company agreed to pay. Part of the agreement was that the state would not release the individual amounts.

The companies were among the more than 70 that King sued in 2005, charging them with manipulating the price that the state's Medicaid program pays for prescription drugs.

The state had previously settled with 10 companies for almost $35 million. The state's lawsuits against four companies have gone to trial, with the state winning judgments against each totaling $352.4 million. (...)