Gilead to Pay $97 Million to Settle Copay-Kickback Allegations

Gilead Sciences Inc. agreed to pay $97 million to settle U.S. claims that the drug maker relied on a supposedly independent charity to pay kickbacks in the form of copays for Medicare patients taking one of the company’s medications.

The accord over Gilead’s Letairis -- a drup to treat high blood pressure in arteries -- is part of a government crackdown on so-called patient-assistance charities being wrongfully used to market medicines. Almost a dozen drug companies have reached more than $1 billion in settlements with federal regulators over such kickbacks.

Gilead used the Caring Voice Coalition, a charity, as ...