Takeda will pay $13.6M to settle allegations it paid kickbacks to doctors

Takeda Prescribed drugs agreed to pay $13.6 million to settle allegations that it paid kickbacks to medical doctors to prescribe an antidepressant and, consequently, violated federal legislation by inflicting Medicaid to pay false claims, the U.S. Division of Justice mentioned in saying the settlement.

From January 2014 to October 2020, the corporate allegedly provided talking charges and paid for meals at “high-end” eating places to steer physicians to prescribe Trintellix. Furthermore, sure medical doctors who attended a number of packages on the identical subject and obtained meals and drinks didn’t acquire any instructional profit from attending the packages.

“This settlement demonstrates the continued dedication of my workplace to make sure that sufferers’ finest pursuits stay paramount,” Eric Grant, the U.S. lawyer for the Japanese District of California, mentioned in a press release. “Prescribing selections shouldn’t be influenced by drug corporations’ funds or aspect perks made accessible to physicians.”