- A federal judge dismissed a whistleblower lawsuit on charges Novartis AG NVS paying kickbacks to doctors on “sham” speaker programs to boost prescriptions for its blockbuster multiple sclerosis drug Gilenya.
- US District Judge Kimba Wood dismissed the whistleblower complaint, arguing that former Novartis sales representative Steven Camburn did not provide enough details to support his claims.
- Camburn’s attorney says he and his client plan to appeal the decision, adding that they are confident the verdict will be reversed. Reuters reported.
- Gilenya was the company’s third best-selling drug in 2021. bring in $2.8 billion worldwide from total sales of $51.6 billion.
- Camburn sued Novartis in 2013 under the False Claims Act, alleging that Novartis paid physicians up to $3,500 to speak at allegedly educational speaking events in order to get them to prescribe and promote Gilenya.
- Novartis agreed to pay $729 million in 2020 to settle similar whistleblower claims related to its speaker program and its diabetes and cardiovascular drugs.
- Price promotion: NVS shares are down 1.55% to $80.68 as of last check Wednesday.
- Photo via Wikimedia Commons
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