Almirall Paying $3.5 Million on Kickback Charges

The Justice Department says Almirall (formerly Aqua Pharmaceuticals) will pay $3.5 million to resolve a whistleblower’s allegations that it used illegal kickbacks to incentivize doctors to prescribe the company’s dermatology drugs. A department statement says the settlement resolves allegations that between 2012 and 2017 Aqua knowingly paid kickbacks to dermatology providers to induce prescriptions of their drugs.

Aqua reportedly used its sales representatives and other employees to provide doctors with improper in-office and out-of-office meals and food items, entertainment, trips, gift cards, and gifts. It also engaged healthcare providers for speaking engagements, advisory boards, and consulting services, where one purpose of the compensation was to induce providers to prescribe Aqua drugs.

The whistleblower who brought the suit will receive $735,000 as her share of the recovery in the case.