Eyepoint Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (EyePoint) headquartered in Massachusetts, has agreed to pay the United States $ 4,657,463.18 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by paying kickbacks to certain Ambulatory Service Centers (ASCs) to induce those ASCs to purchase and dispense DEXYCU, an injectable drug approved for the treatment of ocular inflammation following cataract surgery, between January 1, 2019 and March 1, 2023.
The United States alleges that following the commercial launch of DEXYCU in 2019, EyePoint induced ASCs to purchase and dispense DEXYCU by implementing an Assurance Program — whereunder EyePoint would reimburse or compensate ASCs if health insurers denied a claim for DEXYCU or reimbursed DEXYCU below the ASCs’ purchase cost — and by offering excessive free samples of DEXYCU to ASCs.
“Kickbacks by pharmaceutical companies increase the cost of drugs used by patients and paid for by federal health care programs,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Civil Division will hold accountable anyone who pays unlawful kickbacks.”
“As we have for years, our Office will continue to hold pharmaceutical manufacturers accountable for paying illegal kickbacks,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “Through these efforts, we protect patients by removing providers’ financial incentives to prescribe or dispense products that may not be medically necessary for the patient and protect the...
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