Merck to set aside $670 million to settle False Claims cases
Pharma Compliance Alert, December 12, 2007
The cost to settle False Claims Act cases for Merck-$670 million, according to a release from the company last week. Merck said it would set aside $670 million to settle cases involving nominal pricing fraud for Zocor, Pepcid, and Vioxx.
The money is "in connection with the anticipated resolution of investigations, the first of which was disclosed beginning in 2002, of civil claims by federal and state authorities relating to certain past marketing and selling activities, including nominal pricing programs and samples," the release states.
Merck allegedly offered deep discounts to hospitals that prescribed Zocor, Pepcid, and Vioxx to patients while they were in the hospital. Merck then allegedly concealed the discount when reporting pricing for Medicaid.
The federal case against Merck remains under seal. However, a similar lawsuit filed in Nevada has been unsealed.
Click here to read Merck's press release. Click here to read the complaint filed in Nevada.
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