DOJ Seeks $3.35B from Novartis for Kickback Schemes

Feds say Novartis used rebates and other plans to entice pharmacies to boost prescriptions

July 1, 2015

According to a Wall Street Journal article, the U.S. Department of Justice is asking Novartis to pay up to $3.35 billion in damages and civil fines for using kickbacks to boost sales of two drugs that caused federal health care programs to overpay for medicines.

The article says Novartis violated the False Claims Act by using rebates and other plans to induce specialty pharmacies to boost prescriptions for two drugs: the Myfortic treatment for kidney transplants and Exjade, a medicine used for reducing excess iron in patients who undergo blood transfusions.

Read the Wall Street Journal story

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