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LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS  
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

19.          LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

From time to time, the Company becomes involved in various legal and administrative proceedings, which include product liability, intellectual property, antitrust, governmental and regulatory investigations, and related private litigation. There are also ordinary course employment-related issues and other types of claims in which the Company routinely becomes involved, but which individually and collectively are not material.

 

Unless otherwise indicated, the Company cannot reasonably predict the outcome of these legal proceedings, nor can it estimate the amount of loss, or range of loss, if any, that may result from these proceedings. An adverse outcome in certain of these proceedings could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations, and could cause the market value of its common shares to decline.

 

From time to time, the Company also initiates actions or files counterclaims. The Company could be subject to counterclaims or other suits in response to actions it may initiate. The Company cannot reasonably predict the outcome of these proceedings, some of which may involve significant legal fees. The Company believes that the prosecution of these actions and counterclaims is important to preserve and protect the Company, its reputation and its assets.

 

Governmental and Regulatory Inquiries

 

On May 16, 2008, Biovail Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the Company’s former subsidiary, entered into a written plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office (“USAO”) for the District of Massachusetts whereby it agreed to plead guilty to violating the U.S. Anti-Kickback Statute and pay a fine of $22.2 million.

 

In addition, on May 16, 2008, the Company entered into a non-prosecution agreement with the USAO whereby the USAO agreed to decline prosecution of Biovail in exchange for continuing cooperation and a civil settlement agreement and pay a civil penalty of $2.4 million. A hearing before the U.S. District Court in Boston took place on September 14, 2009 and the plea was approved.

 

In addition, as part of the overall settlement, Biovail entered into a Corporate Integrity Agreement (“CIA”) with the Office of the Inspector General and the Department of Health and Human Services on September 11, 2009. The CIA requires Biovail to have a compliance program in place and to undertake a set of defined corporate integrity obligations for a five-year term. The CIA also includes requirements for an annual independent review of these obligations. Failure to comply with the obligations under the CIA could result in financial penalties.

 

Securities

 

Several purported holders of public shares of Medicis have filed putative class action lawsuits in the Delaware Court of Chancery and the Arizona Superior Court against Medicis and the members of its board of directors, as well as one or both of Valeant and Merlin Merger Sub, Inc. (the wholly-owned subsidiary of Valeant formed in connection with the proposed Medicis acquisition). The Delaware actions have been consolidated for all purposes under the caption In re Medicis Pharmaceutical Corporation Stockholders Litigation, C.A. No. 7857-CS (Del. Ch.). The Arizona action bears the caption Swint v. Medicis Pharmaceutical Corporation, et. al., Case No. CV2012-055635 (Ariz. Sup. Ct.). The actions all allege, among other things, that the Medicis directors breached their fiduciary duties because they supposedly failed to properly value Medicis and caused materially misleading and incomplete information to be disseminated to Medicis’ public shareholders, and that Valeant and/or Merlin Merger Sub, Inc. aided and abetted those alleged breaches of fiduciary duty. The actions also seek, among other things, injunctive and other equitable relief, and money damages. The Company believes that these suits lack merit and intends to vigorously defend against these claims.

 

Plaintiffs in all such actions have indicated an intent to seek an order preliminarily enjoining the meeting of Medicis’ stockholders, currently expected to take place on December 7, 2012, and a hearing has been scheduled on November 28, 2012 in the Delaware action in connection with the requested preliminary injunction in that action.

 

Antitrust

 

On April 4, 2008, a direct purchaser plaintiff filed a class action antitrust complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts against Biovail, GlaxoSmithKline plc, and SmithKline Beecham Inc. (the latter two of which are referred to here as “GSK”) seeking damages and alleging that Biovail and GSK took actions to improperly delay FDA approval for generic forms of Wellbutrin XL®.  In late May and early June 2008, additional direct and indirect purchaser class actions were also filed against Biovail and GSK in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, all making similar allegations.  After motion practice, the complaints were consolidated, resulting in a lead direct purchaser and a lead indirect purchaser action, and the Court ultimately denied defendants’ motion to dismiss the consolidated complaints.

 

The Court granted direct purchasers’ motion for class certification, and certified a class consisting of all persons or entities in the United States and its territories who purchased Wellbutrin XL® directly from any of the defendants at any time during the period of November 14, 2005 through August 31, 2009.  Excluded from the class are defendants and their officers, directors, management, employees, parents, subsidiaries, and affiliates, and federal government entities. Further excluded from the class are persons or entities who have not purchased generic versions of Wellbutrin XL® during the class period after the introduction of generic versions of Wellbutrin XL®. The Court granted in part and denied in part the indirect purchaser plaintiffs’ motion for class certification. The defendants have asked the Third Circuit to review the class certification.

 

After extensive discovery, briefing and oral argument, the Court granted the defendants’ motion for summary judgment on all but one of the plaintiffs’ claims, and deferred ruling on the remaining claim. Following the summary judgment decision, the Company entered into binding settlement arrangements with both plaintiffs’ classes to resolve all existing claims against the Company. The total settlement amount payable is $49.25 million. In addition, the Company will pay up to $500,000 toward settlement notice costs. These charges were recognized in the second quarter of 2012, within Legal settlements in the consolidated statements of income (loss). The settlements require Court approval. The direct purchaser class filed its motion for preliminary approval of its settlement on July 23, 2012. The hearing on final approval of that settlement will take place on November 7, 2012. The indirect purchaser class is expected to file its motion for preliminary approval in the fourth quarter of 2012, with a hearing on final approval of that settlement likely to be held in the first quarter of 2013.

 

Intellectual Property

 

On January 18, 2010, a Canadian Federal Court judge presiding over Biovail and Depomed, Inc. (“Depomed”) v. Apotex Inc. (“Apotex”) et al. issued a decision in a proceeding pursuant to the Patented Medicines (Notice of Compliance) (“PMNOC”) Regulations in Canada to determine whether Apotex’s allegations that a Depomed patent was invalid and/or not infringed was justified. This proceeding related to a Canadian application filed by Apotex to market a generic version of the 500 mg formulation of Glumetza® (extended release metformin hydrochloride tablets) licensed in Canada by Depomed to Biovail Laboratories International SRL, now Valeant International Bermuda (“VIB”).

 

Pursuant to the decision issued by the Court, Health Canada can authorize Apotex to market in Canada its generic version of the 500mg formulation of Glumetza®. The decision, which was amended on January 20, 2010, found under Canadian law that Apotex’s allegation was justified that the Depomed Canadian patent at issue in the matter (No. 2,290,624) (the “624 Patent”) is obvious. The judge found that the evidence presented by the parties was “evenly balanced” as to obviousness. The judge found in favor of Biovail and Depomed as to all other issues related to the ‘624 Patent under Canadian law. Apotex was authorized by Health Canada on February 4, 2010 to market its generic version of 500 mg Glumetza® in Canada. This decision, however, did not find the patent invalid and did not preclude the filing of a subsequent patent infringement suit against Apotex. Biovail and Depomed commenced action for patent infringement against Apotex in Canadian Federal Court on February 8, 2010. Pleadings have now closed, but no further steps have been taken.

 

On or about June 24, 2010, Biovail and VIB received a Notice of Allegation from Mylan Pharmaceuticals ULC (“Mylan”) with respect to Bupropion Hydrochloride 150 mg and 300 mg tablets, marketed in Canada by Biovail as Wellbutrin® XL. The patents in issue were Canadian Patent Nos. 2,142,320, 2,168,364 and 2,524,300. Mylan alleged that its generic form of Wellbutrin® XL did not infringe the patents and, alternatively, that the patents were invalid. Following an evaluation of the allegations in the Notice of Allegation, an application for an order prohibiting the Minister from issuing a Notice of Compliance to Mylan was issued in the Federal Court on August 6, 2010, relating to Canadian Patent Nos. 2,524,300 and 2,168,364 (the “PMNOC Proceeding”). Mylan subsequently withdrew its allegations of invalidity. The parties exchanged evidence and cross-examinations were held. In May 2011, Mylan filed a Statement of Claim in the Federal Court of Canada against the Company, VIB and Valeant Canada seeking to impeach Canadian Patent No. 2,524,300. The parties agreed to discontinue this action, without costs, and a notice of discontinuance was filed with the Federal Court of Canada on August 12, 2011. On September 12, 2011, Mylan filed a Statement of Claim in the Federal Court of Canada against the Company, VIB and Valeant Canada seeking to impeach Canadian Patent No. 2,168,364. The parties agreed to stay this action pending resolution of the PMNOC Proceeding. In April 2012, the Company, VIB, Valeant Canada and Mylan entered into a settlement agreement with respect to the PMNOC Proceeding and the remaining impeachment proceeding, which resulted in a dismissal of the remaining impeachment proceeding and a stay of the PMNOC Proceeding until certain events occur.

 

On or about January 5, 2010, VIB received a Notice of Paragraph IV Certification dated January 4, 2010 from Watson Laboratories, Inc. — Florida (“Watson”), related to Watson’s ANDA filing for bupropion hydrobromide extended-release tablets, 174 mg and 348 mg, which correspond to the Company’s Aplenzin® Extended-release Tablets 174 mg and 348 mg products. Watson asserted that U.S. Patent Nos. 7,241,805, 7,569,610, 7,572,935 and 7,585,897 which are listed in the FDA’s Orange Book for Aplenzin® are invalid or not infringed. VIB subsequently received from Watson a second Notice of Paragraph IV Certification for U.S. Patent Nos. 7,645,802 and 7,649,019, which were listed in the FDA’s Orange Book after Watson’s initial certification. Watson alleged these patents are invalid or not infringed. VIB filed suit pursuant to the Hatch-Waxman Act against Watson on February 18, 2010, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware and on February 19, 2010, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, thereby triggering a 30-month stay of the approval of Watson’s ANDA. The Delaware action dismissed without prejudice and the litigation proceeded in the Florida Court. VIB received a third Notice of Paragraph IV Certification from Watson dated March 5, 2010, seeking to market its products prior to the expiration of U.S. Patent Nos. 7,662,407 and 7,671,094. VIB received a fourth Notice of Paragraph IV Certification from Watson on April 9, 2010. VIB filed a second Complaint against Watson in Florida Court on the third and fourth Notices on April 16, 2010. The two actions were consolidated into the first-filed case before the same judge. In the course of discovery, the issues were narrowed and only five of the patents remained in the litigation. Mandatory mediation was completed unsuccessfully on December 17, 2010. The trial in this matter was held in June 2011 and closing arguments were heard in September 2011. A judgment in this matter was issued on November 8, 2011. The Court found that Watson had failed to prove that VIB’s patents at suit were invalid and granted judgment in favor of VIB. On February 23, 2012 the Court granted Valeant’s request for declaratory injunctive relief under 35 U.S.C. 271(e)(4)(A).  On July 9, 2012, the Court denied Valeant’s request for further injunctive relief under 35 U.S.C. 271(e)(4)(B) and/or 35 U.S.C. 283.  Watson is appealing the judgment and Valeant is cross-appealing the denial of further injunctive relief under 35 U.S.C. 271(e)(4)(B) and/or 35 U.S.C. 283.  The appeal is proceeding in the ordinary course.

 

On or after December 12, 2011, a Notice of Paragraph IV Certification, dated December 7, 2011, was received from Spear Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Spear”), related to Spear’s ANDA filing for fluorouracil topical cream, 0.5%, which corresponds to the Company’s Carac® product. Spear has asserted that U.S. Patent No. 6,670,335 (the “335 Patent”), which is listed in the FDA’s Orange Book for Carac®, is not infringed by the filing of Spear’s ANDA or the manufacture, use, offer for sale, sale or importation of Spear’s product in the U.S. VIB (as exclusive licensee of the ‘335 Patent) and AP Pharma, Inc. (as owner of the ‘335 Patent) filed suit pursuant to the Hatch-Waxman Act against Spear on January 25, 2012, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, thereby triggering a stay of the approval of Spear’s ANDA of up to 30 months during the pendency of the litigation. After reaching a settlement agreement resolving all issues in the litigation, the parties filed a stipulation for dismissal of the lawsuit on October 5, 2012.  An order of dismissal was entered on October 30, 2012.

 

On or about March 20, 2012, a Notice of Paragraph IV Certification was received from Sandoz Inc. (“Sandoz”), related to Sandoz’s ANDA filing for bupropion hydrobromide extended release tablets, 348 mg, which corresponds to the Company’s Aplenzin® ER tablets. Sandoz has asserted that U.S. Patent Nos. 7,241,805, 7,569,610, 7,572,935, 7,585,897, 7,645,802, 7,649,019, 7,662,407 and 7,671,094, which are listed in the FDA’s Orange Book for Aplenzin® Extended Release (ER) tablets, are invalid, unenforceable, and/or will not be infringed by the manufacture, use, importation, sale or offer for sale of Sandoz’s product in the U.S. VIB filed suit against Sandoz on April 30, 2012 asserting infringement of the Orange Book listed patents and U.S. Patent No. 7,553,992 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, thereby triggering pursuant to the Hatch-Waxman Act, a stay of the approval of Sandoz’s ANDA of up to 30 months during the pendency of the litigation. Pursuant to the parties’ voluntary request, the Court entered a joint stipulation of dismissal on September 28, 2012. This case is now closed.

 

On or about August 17, 2012, VIB and Valeant Canada LP/Valeant Canada S.E.C. (“Valeant Canada”) received a Notice of Allegation from Cobalt Pharmaceuticals Company (“Cobalt”) with respect to diltiazem hydrochloride 180mg, 240mg, 300mg and 360 mg tablets, marketed in Canada by Valeant Canada as TIAZAC® XC. The patents in issue were Canadian Patent Nos. 2,242,224, and 2,307,547. Cobalt alleged that its generic form of TIAZAC® XC did not infringe the patents and, alternatively, that the patents were invalid. Following an evaluation of the allegations in the Notice of Allegation, an application for an order prohibiting the Minister from issuing a Notice of Compliance to Cobalt was issued in the Federal Court on September 28, 2012 (the “PMNOC Proceeding”). The application is proceeding in the ordinary course.

 

General Civil Actions

 

Complaints have been filed by the City of New York, the State of Alabama, the State of Mississippi, the State of Louisiana and a number of counties within the State of New York, claiming that Biovail, and numerous other pharmaceutical companies, made fraudulent misstatements concerning the “average wholesale price” (“AWP”) of their prescription drugs, resulting in alleged overpayments by the plaintiffs for pharmaceutical products sold by the companies.

 

The City of New York and plaintiffs for all the counties in New York (other than Erie, Oswego and Schenectady) voluntarily dismissed Biovail and certain others of the named defendants on a without prejudice basis. Similarly, the State of Mississippi voluntarily dismissed its claim against Biovail and a number of defendants on a without prejudice basis.

 

In the case brought by the State of Alabama, the Company answered the State’s Amended Complaint. On October 16, 2009, the Supreme Court of Alabama issued an opinion reversing judgments in favor of the State in the first three cases that were tried against co-defendant companies. The Alabama Supreme Court also rendered judgment in favor of those defendants, finding that the State’s fraud-based theories failed as a matter of law. The court ordered all parties to this proceeding to attend mediation in December 2011. The matter has settled for an all inclusive payment in the amount of less than $0.1 million.

 

A Third Amending Petition for Damages and Jury Demand was filed on November 10, 2010 in Louisiana State Court by the State of Louisiana claiming that a former subsidiary of the Company, and numerous other pharmaceutical companies, knowingly inflated the AWP and “wholesale acquisition cost” of their prescription drugs, resulting in alleged overpayments by the State for pharmaceutical products sold by the companies. The State has subsequently filed additional amendments to its Petition, none of which materially affect the claims against the Company. The matter is in preliminary stages and the Company intends to defend against this action.

 

On December 15, 2009, Biovail was served with a Seventh Amended Complaint under the False Claims Act in an action captioned United States of America, ex rel. Constance A. Conrad v. Actavis Mid-Atlantic, LLC, et al., United States District Court, District of Massachusetts. This case was originally filed in 2002 and maintained under seal until shortly before Biovail was served. Twenty other companies are named as defendants. In the Seventh Amended Complaint, Conrad alleges that various formulations of Rondec, a product formerly owned by Biovail, were not properly approved by the FDA and therefore not a “Covered Outpatient Drug” within the meaning of the Medicaid Rebate Statute. As such, Conrad alleges that Rondec was not eligible for reimbursement by federal healthcare programs, including Medicaid. Conrad seeks treble damages and civil penalties under the False Claims Act. Motions to dismiss have been brought by the defendants. Briefing on these motions concluded on March 30, 2012. A hearing will take place on November 8, 2012.

 

On March 9, 2012, a Notice of Civil Claim was filed in the Supreme Court of British Columbia which seeks an order certifying a proposed class proceeding against the Company and a predecessor, Afexa. The proposed claim asserts that Afexa and the Company made false representations respecting Cold-FX® to residents of British Columbia who purchased the product during the applicable period and that the class has suffered damages as a result. The Company denies the allegations being made and is defending this matter.

 

On or about October 29, 2012, the Company received notice from Anacor Pharmaceuticals (“Anacor”) seeking to commence arbitration of a breach of contract dispute under a master services agreement dated March 26, 2004 between Anacor and Dow Pharmaceuticals (“Dow”) related to certain development services provided by Dow in connection with Anacor’s efforts to develop its onychomycosis nail-penetrating anti-fungal product. The arbitration notice states that Anacor is seeking injunctive relief and damages of at least $215.0 million. The Company intends to vigorously contest these claims.

 

Legacy Valeant Litigation

 

Valeant is the subject of a Formal Order of Investigation with respect to events and circumstances surrounding trading in its common stock, the public release of data from its first pivotal Phase III trial for taribavirin in March 2006, statements made in connection with the public release of data and matters regarding its stock option grants since January 1, 2000 and its restatement of certain historical financial statements announced in March 2008. In September 2006, Valeant’s board of directors established a Special Committee to review its historical stock option practices and related accounting, and informed the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) of these efforts. Valeant has cooperated fully and will continue to cooperate with the SEC in its investigation. The Company cannot predict the outcome of the investigation.

 

Citizen’s Petition

 

In July 2012, the Company filed a Citizen’s Petition with the FDA regarding its recent draft guidance on acyclovir ointment, in which the FDA commented on the supporting evidence required for approval of an ANDA for acyclovir ointment. In the Citizen’s Petition, the Company requested that the FDA refrain from approving an ANDA referencing Zovirax® ointment that does not include data from an in vivo clinical endpoint study showing bioequivalence. The response of the FDA is pending.