Full Investigation
Key Insights
- Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA conspired with other manufacturers to fix the price of pravastatin between 2013 and 2015
- In July 2022, Glenmark entered a deferred prosecution agreement, admitted to the conspiracy, and paid a $30 million criminal penalty
- In September 2024, Glenmark paid an additional $25 million to resolve civil False Claims Act allegations related to the same conduct
- Timing Pattern: Over six years elapsed between the end of the alleged conduct (2015) and the first major enforcement action (2022)
- Money Trail: $55 million in total penalties flowed from Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA to the U.S. Department of Justice and federal health care programs
The Investigation
On a September morning in 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA, had agreed to pay $25 million to resolve allegations it defrauded federal health care programs by conspiring to fix the price of pravastatin, a generic cholesterol drug. This civil settlement capped a years-long investigation that had already resulted in Glenmark admitting guilt and paying a $30 million criminal penalty in 2022.
According to official DOJ records, Glenmark’s illegal conduct began in 2013, when the company entered into agreements with other generic drug manufacturers to coordinate price increases for pravastatin. These collusive arrangements, which continued through 2015, allowed the companies to artificially inflate the cost of a drug relied upon by millions of Americans, including those covered by Medicare and Medicaid.
The DOJ’s investigation, led by the Civil Division under Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania under Jacqueline C. Romero, uncovered extensive evidence of Glenmark’s participation in the price-fixing scheme. In July 2022, Glenmark entered into a deferred prosecution agreement, admitting to the conspiracy and agreeing to pay a $30 million criminal penalty. This admission of guilt—unusual in such settlements—suggested prosecutors had amassed strong evidence.
The Settlement
Despite the criminal resolution, the civil case continued. More than two years later, in September 2024, Glenmark agreed to pay an additional $25 million to resolve its alleged liability under the False Claims Act. This civil settlement addressed the financial harm caused to federal health care programs, which had reimbursed inflated prices for pravastatin as a direct result of the conspiracy.
The timeline of the case reveals a striking pattern: Glenmark’s illegal conduct ended in 2015, but the first major enforcement action did not occur until 2022—a gap of more than six years. The civil settlement followed another two years later. Such delays are not uncommon in complex white-collar investigations, but they raise questions about the speed and effectiveness of regulatory oversight.
Accountability and Outlook
When contacted for comment, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA did not respond to multiple requests sent between January 15 and February 5, 2026. The U.S. Department of Justice, in its public statements, emphasized the seriousness of the conduct and the importance of holding pharmaceutical companies accountable for anti-competitive practices.
The conduct at issue violated both federal antitrust laws and the False Claims Act, which prohibits knowingly submitting false or fraudulent claims for payment to the government. The DOJ’s dual-track enforcement—pursuing both criminal and civil penalties—reflects the seriousness of the offense and the government’s commitment to recouping losses to public programs.
This investigation could not determine the full extent of financial harm to patients and taxpayers, as detailed reimbursement data and internal Glenmark communications remain unavailable or redacted. Going forward, the Glenmark case serves as a stark warning to the pharmaceutical industry and a call to strengthen regulatory oversight.