Ohio to be Reimbursed in 'Frivolous Patent' Lawsuit

Ohio will receive nearly $700,000 from a $14 million settlement announced Tuesday with pharmaceutical GlaxoSmithKline, according to the Attorney General's office. Ohio joined 47 other states in a lawsuit arguing the company violated anti-trust and consumer protection laws by action to delay a generic version of its popular anti-depressant "Paxil" from coming to market. States alleged that GlaxoSmithKline "evergreened" its patent by repeatedly filing for approximately a dozen frivolous patents. By agreeing to the settlement, the company admits no wrongdoing. AG Jim Petro hailed the settlement as a victory for all the states involved. The settlement ensures payment to state prescription drug purchasers that were excluded form previous class-action lawsuits filed by private purchasers, the AG's office said. Medicaid is the largest state purchaser in the settlement.