California And 35 Other States File Lawsuit Against Two Drug Companies

California, the District of Columbia and 35 other states have filed a lawsuit against two companies for antitrust violations.

The complaint alleges that Indivior and MonoSol illegally profited from a drug it produces that is used to treat people hooked on heroin and other painkillers.  

The U.S. Attorney says that in a "product hopping" scheme, the two companies increased profits by slightly reformulating their product in an insignificant way medically, but that served to block generic manufacturers from making cheaper versions.

The lawsuit alleges the scheme cost people trying to get off drugs nearly a billion dollars more than they would have paid otherwise.