Has Daiichi Sankyo Been Accused of Benicar Kickbacks?

Last week, the Wall Street Journal reported that manufacturer Daiichi Sankyo agreed to settle a lawsuit for $39 million after it was accused of paying kickbacks to physicians to prescribe several of its drugs.

The newspaper reported that the lawsuit was sparked by claims filed under whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by a former sales rep. As part of the settlement, the manufacturer also agreed to a corporate integrity agreement, stipulating that it “must implement compliance programs to prevent such illegal practices from occurring in the future.”

Daiichi Sankyo was accused of paying kickbacks in the form of speaking events and meals. The U.S. Department of Justice claimed that some of the doctors’ speaking engagements were nothing but shams, that some physicians “spoke only to his or her own office staff,” and that some audiences only included the doctors’ spouses.

Daiichi Sankyo was accused of encouraging doctors to prescribe Welchol, a cholesterol-lowering medication, and Benicar, Azor, and Tribenzor, which are high blood pressure pills, according to the Journal.

Benicar Lawsuits

As we have reported previously in our blog, Benicar and other drugs with antihypertensive agents have been linked to complications, including severe intestinal sprue-like enteropathy, a condition similar to celiac disease. This makes the fact that Daiichi Sankyo was accused of promoting kickbacks alarming.

For more information about Benicar, Azor, and Tribenzor, speak to the drug injury attorneys at ZK Law. We are currently investigating these drugs. Remember, our attorneys hold negligent drug manufacturers liable for injuries sustained by victims.

To read about the settlement, you can click on the source link below or view the agreement by clicking here.

Zoll & Kranz, LLC – Defective Medical Drug and Device Lawyers

Source: http://blogs.wsj.com/pharmalot/2015/01/12/daiichi-sankyo-pays-39m-to-settle-kickback-charges/