Government
Judge offers final approval to Lupron settlement
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted June 13, 2005
U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns gave final approval last month to a $150 million settlement between TAP Pharmaceutical Products and a class of patients and health plans that had alleged the company overcharged for its prostate cancer drug Lupron.
The settlement includes paying $55 million to certain designated health plans and about $95 million to settle claims of individual consumers and a second class of health plans.
TAP Pharmaceuticals did not admit any wrongdoing. It earlier pleaded guilty to a criminal charge and paid the government about $875 million. Federal officials had accused TAP of giving physicians free Lupron samples that the government was then billed for when the drugs were offered to Medicare patients.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/06/13/gvbf0613.htm.
