Attorney General Eric Holder announced April 27, 2010, that AstraZeneca has agreed to pay $520 million to federal and state taxpayers to settle claims that it illegally marketed the anti-psychotic drug Seroquel for uses that were not approved as safe and effective by the Food and Drug Administration. As part of this scheme, AstraZeneca was accused of illegally promoting Seroquel to physicians off label and in violation of the federal Anti-Kickback statute, all in furtherance of supporting the drug’s use for a host of illnesses for which it was never approved, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. This pharmaceutical fraud settlement is the largest amount ever paid by a company in a civil- only settlement of off-label marketing claims. The federal government will receive $302 million, and states will share up to $218 million.

For the full announcement, go to: http://www.justice.gov/ag/speeches/2010/ag-speech-100427.html.

For more information about qui tam law and health care fraud, contact Nolan and Auerbach, PA.