Opinion ID: 781623
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Plaintiffs' claims and relief sought

Text: 21 In their April 2001 consolidated complaint, Plaintiffs sought class relief on behalf of all health benefit providers that paid for Rezulin during the period between February 1997 and April 2001. 3 According to the complaint, the vast majority of the purchase price of prescription drugs, including Rezulin, is paid directly by health benefit providers, pursuant to contracts that exist between HBPs and virtually every retail and mail-order pharmacy in the United States. Plaintiffs assert that members of the class paid approximately $1.4 billion to purchase the drug. This amount includes only the portion of the prescription paid by the HBPs and excludes the part paid by the patients, in the form of a co-pay. A one-month prescription of Rezulin cost approximately $150, of which the typical HBP paid about $135 (with the patient paying the rest). Prior to the introduction of Rezulin, the most commonly prescribed oral drug therapy for Type II diabetes was metformin, which had a prescription cost of approximately $55 per month, of which the typical HBP paid about $50. 22 In their complaint, Plaintiffs sought to recover the moneys they spent purchasing Rezulin. Asserting that the suit is governed by New Jersey law, the complaint alleges a) knowing concealment, suppression or omission of material facts, in violation of section 56:8-2 of the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act 4 (count 1); b) breach of express warranties and of the implied warranty of merchantability, in violation of New Jersey's Commercial Code sections 2-313 and 2-314 (counts 2 and 3); and c) Unjust Enrichment (count 4). 5