4 Firms to Repay U.S. in HIV Blood Case

Four companies that may have distributed HIV-tainted blood agreed to reimburse the government nearly $12.2 million for payments made by federal health insurance programs. The settlement comes as the companies try to resolve a class-action lawsuit involving more than 6,000 hemophiliacs with AIDS. A tentative settlement in the case would pay the plaintiffs or their survivors $100,000 each. Under the agreement, signed April 30 with the Justice Department, Bayer Corp. would pay 45% of the settlement, Armour Pharmaceutical Co. and Baxter Healthcare Corp. 20% each, and Alpha Therapeutic Corp. 15%.