A recently-published report from Cornerstone Research and the Stanford Law School Securities Class Action Clearinghouse analyzes securities class action litigation in 2020 and demonstrates both a continued focus by the plaintiffs’ bar on life science firms (including those in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology spaces), as well as specific trends in securities litigation affecting companies in…

A recently-published report from NERA Economic Consulting provides a look back at securities class action litigation in 2020 and demonstrates the continued focus by the plaintiffs’ bar on life science firms, particularly those centered on the development and commercialization of drugs and devices.

The report found that excluding merger objections, the Health Technology and Services…

Hou Liu v. Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2020 WL 5441345 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 9, 2020)

On September 9, 2020, Judge Lewis A. Kaplan of the Southern District of New York denied a motion to amend judgment and a request for leave to file a second amended complaint following the Court’s dismissal of an action against Intercept Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and certain of its executives.  The Court ruled that plaintiffs failed to identify any facts the Court overlooked in dismissing the action on March 26, 2020, and had not offered any newly-discovered evidence justifying leave to amend the complaint.…

Continue Reading S.D.N.Y. Rejects Proposed Amended Complaint Alleging Manufacturer Of Liver Disease Drug Intended To Commit Fraud By Not Disclosing Serious Adverse Events

A recently-published report from NERA Economic Consulting provides a mid-year look back at securities class actions and demonstrates the continued focus by the plaintiffs’ securities litigation bar on health care and life science firms, particularly those focused on the development and commercialization of drugs and devices.

The report found that approximately half of all COVID-19-related…

Shanawaz v. Intellipharmaceutics Int’l Inc., No. 17-CV-5761 (JPO) (S.D.N.Y. July 30, 2020)

On July 30, 2020, Judge J. Paul Oetken of the Southern District of New York preliminarily approved a settlement in a putative shareholder class action concerning development of an OxyContin alternative, Rexista.  The parties agreed to a settlement amount of $1.6 million.…

Mehta v. Ocular Therapeutix, Inc., 955 F.3d 194 (1st Cir. 2020)

On April 9, 2020, the First Circuit affirmed the dismissal of an action brought against a biopharmaceutical company, Ocular Therapeutix, Inc., and certain of its officers, regarding statements concerning the Company’s manufacturing processes.  The Court held that plaintiffs failed to allege facts giving rise to a strong inference of scienter (i.e., fraudulent intent) and thus failed to adequately plead a securities law violation.…

Continue Reading First Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Action Regarding Statements Concerning Manufacturing of Eye Drug

A recently-published annual report from Cornerstone Research demonstrates the continued focus by the plaintiffs’ securities litigation bar on pharmaceutical, healthcare, and biotechnology firms.

The report notes that 2019 federal securities filings (excluding merger objections), against Consumer Non-Cyclical companies, primarily composed of pharmaceutical, healthcare, and biotechnology firms, were at record levels.  Specifically, federal filings in the biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare sectors increased from 56 in 2018 to 63 in 2019.…

Continue Reading Cornerstone Research Report Shows Continued Rate of Federal Securities Litigation Filings Targeting Pharmaceutical Industry