Denso Cuts Profit Forecast Amid U.S. Tariffs and Rising Costs 
California Sues Trump Administration Over Federal Authority on Sable Offshore Pipelines 
Qantas to Sell Jetstar Japan Stake as It Refocuses on Core Australian Operations 
Jensen Huang Urges Taiwan Suppliers to Boost AI Chip Production Amid Surging Demand 
New York Judge Orders Redrawing of GOP-Held Congressional District 
SpaceX Reports $8 Billion Profit as IPO Plans and Starlink Growth Fuel Valuation Buzz 
Nvidia Nears $20 Billion OpenAI Investment as AI Funding Race Intensifies 
Panama Supreme Court Voids Hong Kong Firm’s Panama Canal Port Contracts Over Constitutional Violations 
Trump Lawsuit Against JPMorgan Signals Rising Tensions Between Wall Street and the White House 
Supreme Court Signals Doubts Over Trump’s Bid to Fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook 
Australian Scandium Project Backed by Richard Friedland Poised to Support U.S. Critical Minerals Stockpile 
U.S. Condemns South Africa’s Expulsion of Israeli Diplomat Amid Rising Diplomatic Tensions 
NRW Holdings Shares Surge After Securing Major Rio Tinto Contract and New Project Wins 
Google Seeks Delay on Data-Sharing Order as It Appeals Landmark Antitrust Ruling 
Federal Reserve Faces Subpoena Delay Amid Investigation Into Chair Jerome Powell 
Boeing Signals Progress on Delayed 777X Program With Planned April First Flight 
Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) has agreed to pay $59.7 million to resolve allegations that Biohaven Pharmaceuticals, acquired by Pfizer in October 2022, defrauded Medicare and other healthcare programs by offering kickbacks to doctors prescribing its migraine drug, Nurtec ODT. The settlement was announced by the U.S. Department of Justice.
The charges stem from Biohaven's activities between March 2020 and September 2022, where the company allegedly violated the False Claims Act by incentivizing doctors with speaker honoraria and luxury meals. Some events were reportedly attended multiple times by the same doctors or by their family members and colleagues with no educational benefit.
Pfizer ended Biohaven's speaker programs shortly after its $11.5 billion acquisition. The company emphasized its focus on patient needs, stating it was "pleased to put this legacy matter behind us." Pfizer did not admit any wrongdoing in the settlement.
The case originated from a whistleblower lawsuit filed in 2021 by Patricia Frattasio, a former Biohaven sales specialist. Frattasio will receive $8.4 million of the settlement under the False Claims Act, which allows whistleblowers to sue on behalf of the government and share in recoveries.
From the settlement, $41.8 million will be allocated to the federal government, while $9.5 million will go to state Medicaid programs. U.S. Attorney Trini Ross reiterated the importance of ensuring that prescriptions are based on medical judgment, not financial incentives.
This resolution underscores the Justice Department’s commitment to tackling healthcare fraud and safeguarding the integrity of Medicare and Medicaid programs.
