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Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis will pay the US Government more than $72 million to settle a whistleblower case alleging the firm knowingly marketed a cystic fibrosis treatment for uses other than those approved by the Food and Drug Administration, it has been revealed.
Lawyers acting for former employees Robert Lalley, Courtney Davis and William Manos said that biotechnology company Chiron, which Novartis bought in 2006, had billed for improper use of the drug Tobramycin.
The product had been approved for use in treating lung infections in those over the age of six. The case alleged that the drugmaker had marketed the product for younger patients, as well as to those with other diseases.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said the money would be shared between the federal government and 10 states.
Copyright Press Association 2010
Novartis
