Bristol Myers Squibb settles qui tam suit for $515 million
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (BMS) and its wholly owned subsidiary, Apothecon, Inc., have agreed to pay over $515 million to settle a qui tam fraud suit and other civil allegations involving their drug marketing and pricing practices, According to United States Attorney Michael J. Sullivan.
This was a collaboration of seven qui tam actions brought under the False Claims Act. Those actions include the following cases: United States ex rel. Richardson v. Bristol Myers Squibb, Civil Action No. 06-11821-NG (D. Mass.); United States ex rel. Piacentile v. Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., Civil Action No. 05-10196-MLW (D. Mass.); United States ex rel. Forden v. Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., Civil Action No. 04-11216 -RGS (D. Mass.); United States ex rel. Cokus v. Bristol Myers Squibb, Civil Action No. 01-11627-RGS (D. Mass.); United States ex rel. Barlow v. Bristol-Myers Squibb, Civil Action No. 04-11540-MLW (D. Mass.); United States ex rel. Ven-A-Care of the Florida Keys, et al. v. Apothecon, et al., Civil Action No. 00-10698-MEL (D. Mass.); and United States ex rel. Ven-A-Care of the Florida Keys, Inc. v. Bristol Myers Squibb Co., Civil Action No. 95-1354 (S.D. Fla.).
The settlement was by no means the effort of one person, but the joint efforts of several offices and individuals including: the Boston offices of the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Food and Drug Administration's Office of Criminal Investigations, along with Department of Justice Trial Attorney Andy Mao of the Fraud Section of the Civil Division, District of Massachusetts Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gregg Shapiro and Susan Poswistilo, and Southern District of Florida Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Lavine.
The National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Units participated in the negotiation of the settlement, and the Corporate Integrity Agreement was negotiated by Mary Riordan of the Office of Inspector General at the Department of Health and Human Services.
Cheers to everyone involved in making this huge settlement possible. And not to forget the brave whistleblowers who risked a lot to come forward. They will share $50 million of the settlement for their bravery and participation. A relator can receive anywhere from 15 percent to 30 percent in a successful qui tam claim depending upon the government's involvement.
Click here to read more about this Bristol Myers Squibb Settlement from the DOJ and Bristol Myers Squibb.
