Novartis is once again facing justice in the United States over accusations of bribery to promote the distribution of the multiple sclerosis drug Gilenya. A Manhattan appeals court ruled Friday that a whistleblower’s complaint was admissible.
The appeals court stayed a prior district court ruling that dismissed that claim in September 2022 and sent the case back to the lower court. The whistleblower’s accusations had already been made in May 2013, and a court had already rejected them in early 2020.
Novartis is accused of having made payments to doctors so that they could promote the drug to their patients, in violation of a US federal law (False Claims Act).
The case was revealed by a former representative of the Basel group. The latter claims that Novartis paid thousands of dollars to doctors and invited them to restaurants to participate in events promoting the sale of Gilenya.
Sales down
Gilenya, prescribed to treat multiple sclerosis, is an important source of the group’s turnover. In 2023, its turnover will reach almost 1 billion dollars worldwide, out of a total of 45.4 billion.
However, its sales are down compared to previous years, due in particular to the emergence of generic versions in the United States following a court decision authorizing the marketing of these substitute versions. Cut by almost a quarter of its revenues in 2024, Gilenya nevertheless still brought in more than two billion dollars in revenue.
Novartis has not yet taken a position on the latest developments in the matter.
ats/jop
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