Alabama Schedules Bristol-Myers Fraud Suit
1 CommentBy Ed Silverman // July 23rd, 2008 // 4:29 pm
An Alabama judge has scheduled a trial for October in the state’s drug pricing lawsuit against Bristol-Myers Squibb, which is one of more than 70 drugmakers being sued for allegedly overcharging the state’s Medicaid program, the Associated Press reports.
So far, Alabama has won all three cases. Earlier this month, a jury decided Glaxo and Novartis defrauded the state and ordered them to pay more than $114 million in damages. In the first trial in February, AstraZeneca was ordered to pay the state $215 million, although that was later reduced to $160 million.
After the latest victory, Jere Beasley, an attorney representing Alabama, told the remaining drugmakers they had 30 days to reach a settlement. The AP reports the state is currently talking to about 20 drugmakers about a settlement, but Beasley wouldn’t disclose names. Meanwhile, Montgomery County Circuit Judge Charles Price delayed the start of trials for Abbott Labs and Novartis’ Sandoz unit, but did not set dates.
Hypocrisy rules
Someone posted on CF that Blowback is coming Novartis’ way. It seems it has started in earnest. Novartis, the big already fined and Sandoz the generic branch will be. How sad that Novartis has dragged the venarable name of Sandoz into this mass and shame. Sandoz used to stand for everything that was good, ethical and quality. Not any more. Mr. Sandoz ( there was one in Basel century ago) who started it all must be turning in his place of rest.