Eli Lilly Vows Vigorous Defense as Texas Sues Over Alleged Drug Kickbacks

The Texas Attorney General, Ken Paxton, has filed a lawsuit against Eli Lilly, alleging the pharmaceutical giant engaged in an illegal kickback scheme to boost prescriptions of its high-demand drugs, particularly Mounjaro and Zepbound, both GLP-1 medications for weight loss and diabetes135.

The lawsuit claims Eli Lilly offered two types of illegal incentives to healthcare providers:
a 'Free Nurse Program' where free patient-care services were provided to doctors' offices, and a 'Support Services Program' that positioned Lilly staff to help with drug reimbursement, both aimed at encouraging prescriptions of Lilly's drugs1235.

Texas alleges these incentives compromised medical decision-making, resulting in millions of dollars in tainted Medicaid claims and violating the Texas Anti-Kickback Statute235.

Drugs implicated include Mounjaro, Zepbound, Basaglar, Ebglyss, Verzenio, Jaypirca, and Lilly's insulin products12.

This legal action follows previous Texas lawsuits against Eli Lilly and other drugmakers over insulin pricing, with Eli Lilly also facing unrelated lawsuits from patients about the safety of its GLP-1 drugs45.

Eli Lilly has publicly pledged a vigorous defense against these allegations, as stated through a spokesperson5.

Sources:

1. https://www.biospace.com/business/texas-accuses-lilly-of-bribing-prescribers-to-push-mounjaro-zepbound-in-new-suit

2. https://san.com/cc/eli-lilly-accused-of-bribing-doctors-to-prescribe-mounjaro-and-other-drugs/

3. https://texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/attorney-general-ken-paxton-sues-big-pharma-drug-manufacturer-eli-lilly-bribing-providers-prescribe

4. https://www.theindianalawyer.com/articles/texas-ag-eli-lilly-and-co-offered-kickbacks-to-providers-to-prescribe-blockbuster-drugs

5. https://www.pharmaceutical-technology.com/news/eli-lilly-accused-of-bribing-providers-to-prescribe-glp-1ra-drugs/