Texas is seeking more than $1 million from Eli Lilly in a lawsuit accusing the drugmaker of persuading physicians to prescribe its medications, including GLP-1s such as Mounjaro and Zepbound, through kickbacks.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed the lawsuit over two Eli Lilly programs. The Free Nurse Program provides “in-kind remuneration to providers in the form of free patient-care services,” such as injection training for patients. The Support Services Program offers reimbursement for administrative tasks, such as telephone consultations.
These programs “tainted” millions of dollars in claims submitted to Texas Medicaid, according to a statement from Mr. Paxton’s office.
The lawsuit lists 14 Eli Lilly medications, including lung cancer drug Alimta, weight loss therapy Zepbound and several diabetes treatments such as Mounjaro.
“Multiple courts and the federal government have rejected claims by this same corporate relator against Lilly as meritless,” a spokesperson for the drugmaker told Becker’s. “In fact, the United States government determined that ‘the relators’ allegations lack sufficient factual and legal support’ in a prior case, explaining that ‘federal healthcare programs have a strong interest in ensuring that, after a physician has appropriately prescribed a medication, patients have access to basic product support relating to their medication.’ We intend to vigorously defend against these allegations.”
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