Endo agrees $193 million settlement with US Justice Dept over Lidoderm

US drugmaker Endo Health Solutions (Nasdaq: ENDP) and its subsidiary Endo Pharmaceuticals have agreed to pay $192.7 million to resolve criminal and civil liability arising from Endo’s marketing of the prescription pain drug Lidoderm (lidocaine) for uses not approved as safe and effective by the Food and Drug Administration, the Justice Department announced on Friday.

The resolution includes a deferred prosecution agreement and forfeiture totaling $20.8 million and civil false claims settlements with the federal government and the states and the District of Columbia totaling $171.9 million.

“FDA’s drug approval process is designed to ensure that companies market their products for uses that are proven to be safe and effective,” said Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Civil Division Stuart Delery, adding: “We will hold accountable those who circumvent that process in pursuit of financial gain.”