Orthofix to Pay Government $42 Million, Resolving Bone Growth Device Sales Claims

Medical device manufacturer Orthofix International NV will pay the federal government nearly $42 million to resolve civil and criminal liability relating to sales of its bone growth stimulators Orthofix Spinal-Stim, Orthofix Cervical-Stim, and Orthofix Physio-Stim, the Department of Justice said June 7 (United States ex rel. Bierman v. Orthofix International N.V.).

The device company has agreed to pay $34.2 million to settle False Claims Act allegations, and to pay a $7.7 million criminal fine. The civil settlement resolves a whistleblower lawsuit filed by Jeffrey Bierman in 2005, alleging that Orthofix and other manufacturers of bone growth stimulator devices ...