Pharma 101 - Pharmaceutical Fraud

Archive for February, 2007

Aventis Aware of Fraudulent Data Regarding Ketek Says CRO Employee

A former staff member of the Pharmaceutical Product Development (PPD) has claimed that Aventis and PPD - the contract research organization (CRO) hired by Aventis- both knew of fraudulent data in a postmarketing trial for the antibiotic drug during a testimony before a US Congressional subcommittee last week.

The postmarketing study was carried out between November 2001 and March 2002 on behalf of Aventis by PPD, after the FDA required more safety information on Ketek following concerns that it could cause liver problems.

The study was allegedly riddled with fraud, including unscrupulous patient recruitment by some of the enrolling doctors and significant under reporting of adverse events.

To read more about CRO fraud and how it can result in a violation of the False Claims Act, click here.

Is Big Pharma Manufacturer Roxane Overcharging the Government?

The United States Attorney’s Office announced on January 29, 2007, in Boston, Massachusetts that it is intervening in a whistleblower lawsuit filed against Boehringer Ingelheim Roxane, Inc. (”Roxane”) The allegations center around the contention that Roxane reported inflated prices for numerous pharmaceutical products knowing the federal health care programs would establish reimbursement rates based on these fraudulent prices. According to the Government?s complaint, these reported prices were in excess of 1,000 percent of the actual sales prices on several of the drugs it manufactures. It is alleged that damages to federal programs exceeds $500 million.

To read more on this article click here.

To read more about pharmaceutical fraud, click here.