Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against Sanofi-Aventis U.S. LLC, alleging that the company provided illegal kickbacks to healthcare providers to encourage them to prescribe Sanofi drugs instead of other available options.
Sanofi is a large pharmaceutical company producing medications for conditions such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis, autoimmune disorders, and hemophilia. The lawsuit claims that Sanofi used its “Free Nurse Program” and “Support Services Program” to give in-kind benefits to providers, which the Texas Attorney General’s office argues violates the Texas Health Care Program Fraud Prevention Act.
According to the complaint, these programs were intended to influence doctors’ prescribing decisions. Some of the drugs involved are used for chronic illnesses, leading to long-term revenue for Sanofi even if alternative treatments might have been more suitable for patients.
“The quality of Texans’ healthcare should never be determined by Big Pharma bribery,” said Attorney General Paxton. “Sanofi is in clear violation of Texas law that prohibits the exact type of kickback scheme that the company is actively engaging in. The people of Texas deserve to know that the drugs they’re being prescribed are being given to them to best address their medical needs.”
Paxton is seeking over $1 million in monetary relief and civil penalties and wants an injunction to stop any further violations. He has previously taken legal action against Sanofi and Bristol-Myers Squibb regarding their drug Plavix and against Eli Lilly for alleged illegal kickbacks.
The Attorney General’s office operates across 117 offices throughout Texas with more than 4,000 employees working in 38 divisions, including about 750 attorneys who manage over 30,000 cases each year (https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/press_releases). The office works statewide to uphold laws, provide legal support for government entities, enforce consumer protections and other public interests (https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/press_releases). It also coordinates efforts among divisions such as child support enforcement and consumer protection (https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/press_releases).
For further details on this case or related actions by the Attorney General’s office, information can be found on its official website (https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/press_releases).