FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 6, 2012) — Attorney General Jack Conway has recovered another $2.29 million on behalf of the Kentucky Medicaid program following a settlement with Aventis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Aventis Behring, LLC, also known as ZLB Behring, Inc. Both drug companies are now owned by Sanofi-Aventis U.S. LLC. This is the latest in a number of settlements in so-called Average Wholesale Price (AWP) lawsuits filed by the Office of the Attorney General against 47 of the nation’s largest pharmaceutical companies.
The AWP lawsuits filed by the Attorney General allege that defendant drug companies published false, inflated and deceptive AWPs for their drugs, which did not bear any relationship to the prices actually charged.
“Because the Kentucky Medicaid program relied on published AWPs to calculate Medicaid drug reimbursement rates, it paid millions of dollars more for the defendants’ drugs,” General Conway said. “I am pleased that we’ve been able to recover this money for this vital state program and for Kentucky taxpayers.”
Sanofi-Aventis manufactures brand drugs, including the popular drugs Allegra and Nasacort (allergic rhinitis), and Azmacort and Slobid (asthma).
This is one of 17 settlements reached between Conway’s office and pharmaceutical companies over inflated AWPs.
The Attorney General’s Tip Line for reporting allegations of Medicaid fraud is 1-877-228-7384.
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