Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost joined other states and the federal government in announcing a settlement with Avanir Pharmaceuticals over allegations that the company paid kickbacks to medical professionals and engaged in off-label marketing tactics to promote its flagship drug Nuedexta unlawfully.
“Kickbacks are to ethics like a magnet to a compass – you lose your direction,” Yost said. “Avanir’s crafty marketing scheme steered doctors toward corruption, but even worse, it put patients at risk for improper care.”
Avanir will pay $103 million to the states and federal government, including $7 million earmarked for Medicaid programs to resolve allegations that improper marketing of Nuedexta caused false claims to be submitted to government health care programs. Ohio will receive about $3.7 million from the settlement.
Source: Yost announces $103M multistate settlement with Avanir Pharmaceuticals / The Highland County Press