Novartis, BioScrip Inc. hematology news

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York unsealed a complaint filed by the U.S. government alleging that Novartis paid kickbacks to BioScrip to boost sales of iron chelating agent Exjade deferasirox. The U.S. attorney filed the case, U.S. ex rel. Kester, et al. v. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, et al., in 2011 as a civil action under the False Claims Act. Earlier this month, BioScrip agreed to pay the U.S. $11.7 million to settle claims against it. In a statement, Novartis said it disputes the allegations and intends to defend itself. The pharma reported $194 million in net U.S. sales of Exjade for the first nine months of 2013. ...