BioCentury
ARTICLE | Company News

Bausch + Lomb ophthalmic news

June 3, 2013 7:00 AM UTC

Bausch + Lomb said that its ISTA Pharmaceuticals Inc. subsidiary will pay about $34 million in civil and criminal fines to the U.S. government to settle litigation involving conduct by ISTA that occurred between January 2006 and March 2011. The subsidiary pled guilty to charges of conspiracy to introduce a misbranded drug in interstate commerce with intent to defraud and mislead, and conspiracy to violate the anti-kickback statute. ISTA will also be prohibited from participating in federal healthcare programs, including Medicare and Medicaid. Bausch + Lomb said that ISTA products including Bromday bromfenac to treat ocular inflammation and pain following cataract surgery and Bepreve bepotastine to treat ocular itching associated with allergic conjunctivitis have been transferred to Bausch + Lomb, and are therefore not subject to the exclusion stipulated by the settlement and remain eligible for reimbursement. Bausch + Lomb, which acquired ISTA last June, said it will wind down the ISTA corporate entity by year end (see BioCentury, June 11, 2012). ...