
    IN RE: SOLODYN (MINOCYCLINE HYDROCHLORIDE) ANTITRUST LITIGATION.
    MDL No. 2503.
    United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation.
    Feb. 25, 2014.
    Before JOHN G. HEYBURN II, Chairman, MARJORIE O. RENDELL, CHARLES R. BREYER, SARAH S. VANCE, and ELLEN SEGAL HUVELLE, Judges of the Panel.
   TRANSFER ORDER

JOHN G. HEYBURN II, Chairman.

Before the Panel: Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, defendants in twelve antitrust actions relating to anticompetitive conduct in the market for minocycline hydrochloride seek centralization of this litigation in the District of Arizona or, alternatively, the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. This litigation currently consists of twelve actions pending in the District of Arizona, the District of Massachusetts, and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, as listed on Schedule A.

All the responding parties support centralization, but disagree as to the transferee district. Plaintiffs in eight Eastern District of Pennsylvania end-payor cases support centralization in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Plaintiff in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Rochester Drug direct purchaser action supports centralization in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania or, alternatively, the District of Massachusetts. Plaintiff in the District of Arizona action suggests centralization in District of Arizona or the District of Massachusetts. Plaintiffs in the three District of Massachusetts actions support centralization in the District of Massachusetts.

On the basis of the papers filed and the hearing session held, we find that these actions involve common questions of fact, and that centralization under Section 1407 in the District of Massachusetts will serve the convenience of the parties and witnesses and promote the just and efficient conduct of this litigation. These actions are purported nationwide class actions alleging that defendants violated federal and state antitrust laws by excluding generic competition for Solodyn through, among other things: filing sham patent litigation and baseless citizen petitions with the Food and Drug Administration, entering into reverse payment agreements in which Medicis allegedly agreed to pay the generic manufacturer defendants substantial sums in exchange for delaying entry of their less expensive generic versions of Solodyn into the market, and enacting a “product-hopping” scheme in which Medicis unnecessarily introduced varying dosages of Solodyn in an effort to deplete demand for approved generic dosages. Centralization will eliminate duplicative discovery; prevent inconsistent pretrial rulings, including with respect to class certification; and conserve the resources of the parties, them counsel and the judiciary.

Given that this litigation involves the alleged anticompetitive conduct of several pharmaceutical manufacturers concerning a prescription drug that has been widely marketed throughout the nation, any number of districts could serve as the transferee district. On balance, we conclude that the District of Massachusetts is an appropriate transferee district for this litigation. This district offers a forum that is both convenient and accessible for the parties and witnesses, particularly for the numerous defendants that are based along the East Coast.

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407, the actions listed on Schedule A and pending outside the District of Massachusetts are transferred to the District of Massachusetts and, with the consent of that court, assigned to the Honorable Denise J. Casper for coordinated or consolidated pretrial proceedings with the actions pending there.

SCHEDULE A

MDL No. 2503 — IN RE: SOLODYN (MINOCYCLINE HYDROCHLORIDE) ANTITRUST LITIGATION

District of Arizona

City of Providence, Rhode Island v. Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp., et al., C.A. No. 2:13-01952

District of Massachusetts

Ahold USA Inc. v. Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp., et al., C.A. No. 1:13-12225

International Union of Operating Engineers Stationary Engineers Local 39 Health & Welfare Trust Fund v. Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp. et al., C.A. No. 1:13-12435

Painters District Council No. 30 Health and Welfare Fund v. Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp., et al., C.A. No. 1:13—12517

Eastern District of Pennsylvania

United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1776 & Participating Employers Health and Welfare Fund v. Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp., et al., C.A. No. 2:13-04235

Rochester Drug Co-Operative, Inc. v. Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp., et al., C.A. No. 2:13-04270

Local 271 Health & Welfare Fund v. Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp., et al., C.A. No. 2:13-04642

Sheet Metal Workers Local No. 25 Health & Welfare Fund v. Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp., et al., C.A. No. 2:13-04659

Fraternal Order of Police, Fort Lauder-dale Lodge 31, Insurance Trust Fund v. Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp., et al., C.A. No. 2:13-05021

Heather Morgan v. Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp., et al., C.A. No. 2:13-05097

Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 178 Health & Welfare Trust Fund v. Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp., et al., C.A. No. 2:13-05105

International Union of Operating Engineers Local 132 Health and Welfare Fund v. Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp., et al., C.A. No. 2:13-05108 
      
       Judges Paul J. Barbadoro and Lewis A. Kaplan took no part in the decision of this matter.
     
      
      . Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp. and Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.; and generic defendants Impax Laboratories, Inc.; Lupin Ltd. and Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Mylan Inc. and Matrix Laboratories Ltd.; Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ranbaxy Inc., and Ranbaxy Laboratories, Ltd.; Sandoz Inc.; Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd., Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. and Barr Laboratories, Inc.
     
      
      . The parties have notified the Panel of an additional related action pending in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. This action and , any other related actions are potential tag-along actions. See Panel Rule 7.1.
     
      
      . Solodyn (minocycline hydrochloride) is a tetracycline antibiotic that is prescribed for the treatment of non-nodular moderate to severe acne.
     