Who Remembers this Case with the Human Growth Hormone! Drug Manufacturer Settles Allegations Of Kickbacks Paid To Pharmacy Benefit Manager By Kimberly J. Kannensohn and Krist Werling, McGuireWoods LLP*

The U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts has come out strong against undisclosed relationships and payments between drug manufacturers and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). On April 2, Pfizer announced that its subsidiary, Pharmacia & Upjohn Company, Inc., has agreed to pay a total of $34.7 million to resolve criminal allegations which stem from the marketing and promotion of Genotropin. Genotropin (somatropin [rDNA origin] for injection) is a human growth hormone product that was developed and marketed by Pharmacia before its merger with Pfizer. In addition to the kickback allegations, prosecutors also alleged that Pharmacia promoted Genotropin for a variety of off-label purposes including anti-aging, cosmetic use, and athletic enhancement despite the fact that the Genotropin label approved the drug solely for the treatment of growth-related diseases. Several PBMs have settled similar allegations but Pfizer is the first drug manufacturer to settle charges related to these relationships. - See more at: http://www.healthlawyers.org/News/Health%20Lawyers%20Weekly/Pages/2007/April%202007/April%2020%202007/Drug_Manufacturer_Settles_Allegations_Of_Kickbacks_Paid_To_Pharmacy_Benefit_Manager.aspx#sthash.gyOKPIaU.dpuf