Botox Maker Settles Charges for $600 Million

Allergan, the makers of Botox, have agreed to pay a $600 million settlement for charges that the company promoted the off-label use of the drug. According to the complaint, Allergan had a marketing program in place that would include “kickbacks” to doctors for prescribing Botox for things that it hasn’t been approved for, like pain treatment. The FDA is considering approval for Botox’s use in treating chronic migraines.

Allergan spokeswoman Caroline Van Hove denied kickback and fraud allegations in an emailed statement to the New York Times. The company issued a statement yesterday, saying that it plead guilty to one misdemeanor “misbranding” charge and agreed to pay $225 million to resolve civil claims.

“This is part of a departmentwide and administrationwide effort to really crack down on health care fraud,” Tony West, assistant attorney general for the civil division of the Justice Department, told the New York Times.

[Image via BioJobBlog]

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