The drugmaker reached a deal with 50 state attorneys general after being accused of violating court orders in two earlier lawsuits, in which it settled state charges of unlawfully depriving consumer of cheaper generic versions of its Buspar and Taxol drugs.

Under those deals, Bristol paid the states $150 million, and also agreed to avoid any similar anti-competitive conduct, to notify the states of any patent litigation settlements with generic drug rivals and to provide the states with yearly compliance reports (see statement from the Kentucky attorney general).

Some background: In March 2006, the drugmaker reached a settlement with Apotex, a generic rival, in a patent infringement lawsuit involving its Plavix bloodthinner. The deal triggered notification obligations under the earlier court orders in the Buspar and Taxol cases and was subject to state approval.

But according to the states, the Plavix settlement the drugmaker provided was inaccurate and incomplete, as were its 2007 and 2008 compliance reports, because Bristol failed to disclose non-documented, “side” arrangements that a Bristol official made with Apotex. The states contended the failure to inform them of the secret arrangements violated the Buspar and Taxol court orders.