A former executive with Novartis, a giant pharmaceutical company, claims in a whistleblower lawsuit that she was fired for reporting that a drug research contract appeared to be a kickback. According to the lawsuit, Novartis contracted with McKesson, a very large drug wholesaler and disbributor, to conduct a study regarding off-label uses of a breast cancer drug, Affinitor. The whistleblower, Min Amy Guo, also alleges that the contract was too expensive, that it was overseen by a Novartis unit whose principal responsibility was client relations not research and that McKesson committed to influence its network members to use the drug based on its study.
Source: Wall Street Journal
Novartis is currently operating under a Corporate Integrity Agreement with the Department of Justice that was part of a settlement of civil and criminal actions that arose for alleged improper marketing of its drugs, which is the essence of this scheme alleged in this lawsuit.
Lexington, Kentucky whistleblower lawyer Robert Abell represents individuals and employees in whistleblower cases; contact him at 859-254-7076.
