Pharmaceutical company Indivior reached a $300 million settlement with all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico to resolve allegations it falsely and aggressively marketed Suboxone, a drug that treats opioid addiction.
The settlement, reached April 27, resolves allegations that from 2010 to 2015, Indivior promoted Suboxone to physicians who prescribed it without a legitimate medical purpose. It also settles allegations that Indivior made misleading claims about Suboxone's risk of diversion, abuse and accidental pediatric exposure.
Additionally, the settlement resolves allegations that Indivior fraudulently informed the FDA that the drug had been discontinued to deter generic competitors from entering the market.
Last November, Indivior agreed to permanently disband its Suboxone sales force and take steps to prevent promoting it to healthcare providers at high risk of inappropriate prescribing.
In an April 28 news release, Indivior said the settlement announcement was "administrative in nature" and formalized agreements regarding Suboxone marketing it had made last November.