Anglo-Swedish pharma major AstraZeneca (LSE: AZN) has agreed to pay the US government $7.9 million to settle allegations that it engaged in a kickback scheme in violation of the False Claims Act, the Justice Department announced yesterday.
AstraZeneca markets and sells pharmaceutical products in the USA, including a gastro-intestinal drug sold under the trade name Nexium (esomeprazole). The Department of Justice also claimed that AstraZeneca provided price concessions to Medco on other therapies, including Prilosec (omeprazole), Plendil (felodipine) and Toprol XL (metoprolol).
“We will continue to pursue pharmaceutical companies that pay kickbacks to pharmacy benefit managers,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Joyce Branda of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, adding: “Hidden financial agreements between drug manufacturers and pharmacy benefit managers can improperly influence which drugs are available to patients and the price paid for drugs.”
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