Cardizem Settlement Fund

FOR GRANTS TO BENEFIT THE HEALTH CARE NEEDS
OF CONSUMERS WITH HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND ANGINA

DEADLINE FOR GRANT APPLICATIONS: 5:00 PM November 21, 2008

The New York State Attorney General, on behalf of the Attorneys General of all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, is soliciting applications from nonprofit organizations and public agencies for grants to benefit the health care needs of consumers with hypertension, chronic stable angina and/or angina due to coronary artery spasm. Grants will be made on a one-time basis for specific projects that have a nationwide impact. The New York State Attorney General may award either one grant in the amount of approximately $268,000 or more than one grant in smaller amounts.

The funds are the result of the settlement of antitrust lawsuits brought by the state attorneys general and private class action plaintiffs against two drug companies accused of conspiring to keep a generic version of a widely used medication off the market. (In re Cardizem CD Antitrust Litigation, Master File No. 99-MDL-1278 (E.D.Mich.) (NGE).) The suits alleged that beginning in July 1998, Hoechst (a pharmaceutical company subsequently acquired by Aventis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) paid Andrx Corporation over $89 million not to market a generic form of Cardizem CD and to delay the availability of the generic form of Cardizem CD. As a result, consumers, medical insurance companies and the government had to purchase the higher priced, brand name version of the drug for over 11 months. Cardizem CD is a controlled release form of diltiazem for treatment of high blood pressure (hypertension) and for management of chronic stable angina and angina due to coronary artery spasm.

Before trial and without admitting liability, Hoechst and Andrx agreed to pay $80 million to settle the lawsuits asserted on behalf of consumers, states and third party payers. Of this amount, approximately $21 million was for a Consumer Settlement Fund to compensate consumers who purchased Cardizem CD in 1998 and 1999. After notice and hearing, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan approved the settlement and distribution of over $21 million to over 76,000 consumers. The approximately $268,000 that will now be distributed represents the remaining funds.

For more information about the Cardizem Consumer Settlement Fund and instructions on how to submit a grant application, click on the links below to view the Request for Proposals and Grant Application Form.

Notice of Grants Availability and Request for Proposals for Grants to Benefit the Health Care Needs of Consumers With High Blood Pressure and Angina and Application Form. (Adobe PDF Format).

Notice of Grants Availability and Request for Proposals for Grants to Benefit the Health Care Needs of Consumers With High Blood Pressure and Angina and Application Form. (Microsoft Word Format).

Grant Applications must be received by 5:00 PM, Friday, November 21, 2008.

To download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader click here.