Invisalign manufacturer Align Technology has agreed to pay $27.5 million to settle allegations that it participated in anticompetitive conduct that drove up the prices of SmileDirectClub aligners.
The class action lawsuit stemmed from a previous agreement between the two clear aligner companies in which Align Technology agreed not to enter the direct-to-consumer market. This agreement allegedly led to SmileDirectClub patients paying more for their aligners.
The settlement would cover nearly 1.4 million consumers who purchased SmileDirectClub clear aligners between Oct. 22, 2017, and Aug. 18, 2022. Align would also provide $300 coupons for its Invisalign treatment to each class member.
A motion for settlement was filed Aug. 29, according to court documents. The settlement still needs to be approved by a judge.