Cardinal Health agrees to $27M fine, settles monopoly charges in 25 markets — including Charlotte

Cardinal Health Inc. (NYSE:CAH) has agreed to pay $26.8 million to resolve charges brought by the Federal Trade Commission that it illegally monopolized 25 markets — including Charlotte, Raleigh and Greensboro — for the sale and distribution of certain pharmaceuticals and forced hospitals and clinics to pay inflated prices for these drugs. This is the second-largest monetary settlement the FTC has obtained in an antitrust case. The money will be deposited into a fund for distribution to injured…