(CNN) Pharmaceutical companies are set to pay nearly $70 million to California over "collusive" deals that kept generic drugs off the market and raised prices, state Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced Monday.

Under such "pay-for-delay" agreements, drugmakers could maintain a monopoly on branded medications after their patents expired, Becerra said. The practices caused consumers "to pay as much as 90% more for drugs shielded from competition," his office added.

Four settlements were reached with drug companies Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Endo Pharmaceuticals and Teikoku Pharma over the practices, Becerra said. The agreements will allow some consumers to recover costs related to their drugs.

Teva kept a generic of Provigil, a drug used to treat narcolepsy, from entering the market for almost six years, according to Becerra. Part of the $69 million settlement paid by Teva will be used to create a $25 million consumer fund for California residents who purchased Provigil between 2006 and 2012.

Other settlements reached with Teva, Endo and Teikoku were related to a generic version of Lidoderm that was kept off the market for nearly two years. Lidoderm is a patch used to treat shingles-related pain.

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