Pharmaceutical Kickbacks

Right now the pharmaceutical industry is in the middle of its biggest challenge in history. Whistleblowers have exposed and continue to expose fraudulent practices ranging from pricing issues to sales and marketing practices at a rate never anticipated by either the pharmaceutical industry or the Department of Justice. Settlements and jury verdicts have been headline grabbing and large, attracting the attention of pharma, regulators, Congress and taxpayers. The qui tam pharmaceutical fraud cases settled since 2000 alone have amounted to over 3.5 billion dollars, representing various patterns of fraud. We expect to see some new patterns as time goes by, especially with the new Medicare prescription drug benefit. Pharmaceutical fraud is still abundant and this blog is intended to keep readers up to date with all pharmaceutical fraud related news and to provide commentary when warranted. This blog also contains an array of laws and regulations concerning the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act set out in an easy to read format.

AstraZeneca Agrees to $520 Million Settlement

by Nolan and Auerbach on April 28, 2010

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.

Leave a Comment

Previous post:

Next post: