Hello, everyone. We apologize for leaving so abruptly this afternoon, but a personal matter required that we be elsewhere. And for once, it was impossible to use the laptop. Nonetheless, we are now catching up and thought it would be worth noting a few developments. Coincidentally, they all involve a legal ruling. In any event, we hope your weekend goes well. Splendid time to pick a few apples, yes?

Alabama settled Medicaid drug pricing lawsuits against Bristol-Myers Squibb and four other companies, according to Jere Beasley, a lawyer representing the state. Bristol-Myers is one of more than 70 companies the state has sued for allegedly overcharging the state’s Medicaid program, and Beasley says undisclosed settlements were reached with four other companies that were not named. A trial had been set to begin October 27. State juries have ruled in favor of the state in cases against Glaxo, Novartis and AstraZeneca.

The US Court of Appeals upheld a preliminary injunction barring Roche from launching its Mircera anemia drug, which would compete against Amgen’s Epogen and Aranesp meds. Last year, a jury found that Roche violated Amgen patents. A Roche spokeswoman says the drugmaker will “continue to pursue opportunities to appeal this matter and that Roche believes strongly there should be treatment options for patients with chronic kidney disease and as well as choice for healthcare providers.”

A Pennsylvania state court jury ruled that Wyeth was not responsible for the death of a woman who had taken its Pondimin diet pill and developed PPH, or primary pulmonary hypertension. The drugmaker withdrew the fen-phen diet pills in 1997 after links to PPH and heart-valve disease surfaced, and eventually took $21.1 billion in charges to cover litigation costs.