Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer will pay $60 million to settle charges that its subsidiary, Biohaven, paid kickbacks to physicians to promote the migraine drug Nurtec ODT.
Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer will pay nearly $60 million to settle charges that a company it acquired, Biohaven , paid kickbacks to physicians to induce them to prescribe the migraine drug Nurtec ODT. The Justice Department announced Friday that Biohaven engaged in improper remuneration, including speaker honoraria and lavish meals at upscale restaurants, to healthcare professionals in violation of the anti-kickback statute .
The scheme, which spanned from March 1, 2020, through September 30, 2022, took place before Pfizer acquired Biohaven in October 2022. Prosecutors alleged that some physicians who attended multiple speaker programs on the same subject received no real educational benefit from repeated attendance. They also pointed out that certain Biohaven speaker programs included individuals with no educational need to attend, such as the speakers' spouses, family members, or friends, or colleagues from the speakers' own practices. Pfizer discontinued the Nurtec speaker programs following the $11.5 billion acquisition of Biohaven.U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross for the Western District of New York stated, 'Patients deserve to know that their doctor is prescribing medications based on their doctor’s medical judgment, and not as a result of financial incentives from pharmaceutical companies.' She added, 'This settlement reflects our commitment to hold those who violate the laws accountable, regardless of their status or prestige.' Pfizer, however, maintained it did not admit wrongdoing in agreeing to the settlement, saying in a statement, 'We are pleased to put this legacy matter behind us, so that we can continue to focus on the needs of patients.' Nurtec ODT, also known as Rimegepant, was approved for treating acute migraines in February 2020 and its use was expanded to preventing episodic migraines in June 2021. The drug received promotion by singer Lady Gaga in 2023, who shared her experience with migraines and expressed relief at finding the medication
Pfizer Biohaven Kickbacks Nurtec ODT Medicare Fraud Anti-Kickback Statute
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