March 16, 2010
Alpharma, a subsidiary of King Pharmaceuticals, will pay $42.5 million to resolve allegations that
it improperly marketed the morphine-based drug Kadian.
The Justice Department’s press release outlined the alleged violations: paying health care providers to promote or prescribe the drug, and making misrepresentations about its safety and efficacy.
The suit began as a whistleblower action brought under the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act. The whistleblower, Debra Parks, was represented by Mary Louise Cohen and Tim McCormack of Phillips & Cohen LLP.
The proceeds from the settlement will be split between the federal government and various states.