By Matt Sepic, KWMU
St. Louis, MO. – The state of Illinois has received nearly $2 million in a settlement with three companies that manufacture and distribute the cancer drug Lupron.
The state claimed Abbott Laboratories, Tap Pharmaceuticals and Takeda Pharmaceuticals inflated average wholesale prices of the drug.
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan says that hurt medical programs that serve the poor.
"The inflated price for these prescription drugs essentially forced government programs and the Illinois Medicare consumers to overpay millions of dollars in drug costs," Madigan said.
Madigan says the settlement money will be distributed to 19 clinics around Illinois that serve low-income patients.
The Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation in East St. Louis will receive $130,000.
Officials there say they'll use the money to improve cancer screening services.