An attorney seeking as much as $400 million in damages from two large pharmaceutical companies told jurors Tuesday the firms defrauded Alabama's Medicaid program with high prices for drugs for more than a decade. The trial, expected to last about two weeks, is the second to be held on more than 70 lawsuits filed by the state accusing pharmaceutical companies of overcharging Medicaid for prescription drugs. The first ended with a jury awarding the state $215 million against AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A state court jury has awarded Alabama $215 million in its Medicaid drug price fraud suit against a British pharmaceutical firm.

AstraZeneca Plc said on Thursday it would appeal a jury ruling that it pay $215 million in damages, in an Alabama lawsuit related to drug pricing under the Medicaid health program for the needy.