The U.S. Justice Department plans to intervene in lawsuits accusing North Chicago, Ill.-based Abbott Laboratories of off-label marketing for its drug, Depakote, according to a Chicago Tribune report.
Last week, the Justice Department filed notices to intervene in at least three suits that were previously sealed but made public after the intervention. The suits allege that Depakote, one of Abbott’s top-selling drugs, was promoted to treat conditions such as dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia when the FDA had not approved those uses. Rather, the FDA-approved uses included the treatment of seizure disorders, bipolar disorder and the prevention of migraines.
The lawsuits allege Abbott’s illegal promotions resulted in false claims for prescription reimbursement being submitted to federal health programs, such as Medicaid.
Read the Chicago Tribune report on the lawsuits against Abbott Laboratories.
Read more about healthcare fraud:
– RACs Finding Errors in Drug Dosages
– RACs and Medicare Administrative Contractors to Work Together
– Judge to Decide Whether to Consolidate Class-Action Suits Against BCBS of Michigan
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