October 26, 2018

Abbott Laboratories and AbbVie, Inc. have agreed to pay $25 million to settle a case initiated by a whistleblower alleging that the pharma companies paid unlawful kickbacks and engaged in unlawful off-label marketing for the drug TriCor.  The kickbacks took the form of gifts and payments for consulting and speaking engagements that were meant to induce or reward physicians for prescribing TriCor.  The off-label marketing consisted of Abbott’s advertising the drug for conditions for which it was not FDA-approved.  The whistleblower, Amy Bergman, a former Abbott sales representative, will receive $6.5 million of the settlement.  USAO E.D.Pa.

Tagged in: Anti-Kickback and Stark, FCA Federal, Off-Label and Unapproved Use, Pharma Fraud, Whistleblower Case, Whistleblower Rewards,