Novo Nordisk Pays $1.725 Million to Resolve Claims That its Sales Representatives Paid Pharmacists for Access to Confidential Patient Information
Novo Nordisk, Inc. has entered into a civil settlement agreement with the United States in which it has agreed to pay the United States and several states $1.725 million to resolve allegations that the company caused false or fraudulent claims to be submitted to the Medicaid program in connection with its marketing of the diabetes drugs Novolin, Novolin 70/30, Novolog, and Novolog 70/30. The settlement was announced by Loretta E. Lynch, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. As alleged in the civil settlement agreement, Novo Nordisk sales representatives in four states and the District of Columbia made payments to Rite Aid pharmacists in exchange for those pharmacists recommending the Novolin and Novolog products. The pharmacists, together with Novo Nordisk sales representatives in those states, identified patients who were candidates to use Novolin or Novolog and communicated with physicians, patients, or other pharmacists to encourage them to use or recommen...