Attorney General Jason Miyares has filed a lawsuit in Richmond Circuit Court against major pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and insulin manufacturers. The suit targets Express Scripts, CVS Caremark, OptumRx, Sanofi-Aventis U.S. LLC, and Novo Nordisk Inc., alleging violations of the Virginia Consumer Protection Act related to the pricing of insulin.
According to the Attorney General’s office, PBMs play a central role in determining drug costs and access for Virginians with diabetes. The complaint alleges that PBMs’ control over formularies and rebate systems allowed them to profit while patients faced higher prices for necessary medications. Insulin manufacturers are accused of raising list prices in tandem without corresponding improvements to their products or increases in manufacturing costs.
The state alleges that as insulin prices increased, PBMs demanded larger payments from manufacturers for preferred placement on drug lists. This practice is said to have kept consumer prices high and competition low, misleading consumers about the reasons behind rising costs.
“The Commonwealth is home to hundreds of thousands of Virginians living with diabetes, many of whom rely on daily insulin injections to survive,” the Attorney General’s office stated. “This lawsuit follows Attorney General Miyares’ prior announcement of an investigation into PBMs and insulin manufacturers.”
The legal action seeks injunctive relief to halt the alleged conduct, restitution for affected consumers in Virginia, recovery of profits deemed unlawfully gained by defendants, civil penalties, and other remedies provided by state law.
“Read the complaint here.”
