Novartis Whistleblower Advances Kickback Lawsuit Toward Trial

A whistleblower can move forward with a False Claims Act suit alleging that Novartis Pharmaceutical Corp. paid kickbacks to physicians to increase prescriptions of Gilenya, a drug used to treat multiple sclerosis, a New York federal district court said.

Steven Camburn adequately alleged Novartis knowingly submitted kickback-tainted claims to Medicare, including claims alleging Novartis paid physicians for speaking at events with no legitimate attendees, Judge Kimba M. Wood of the US District Court for the Southern District of New York said in a Monday order.

The parties must now work on a proposed schedule for discovery, pretrial motions, and trial, ...