The Office of the Attorney General's Civil Medicaid Fraud Division has filed a lawsuit against pharmaceutical giants Pfizer, Inc. and Tris Pharma, Inc., as well as Tris CEO Ketan Mehta, for defrauding the Texas Medicaid program and providing adulterated pharmaceutical drugs to Texas children. The lawsuit alleges that Pfizer knowingly distributed an attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder medication called Quillivant XR, produced by Tris, despite the drug's consistent failure in quality control tests due to flawed manufacturing practices.
According to the lawsuit, Tris manipulated the drug's testing method in violation of federal and state laws in order to ensure that Quillivant passed regulatory standards and could continue to be sold. Meanwhile, Pfizer misrepresented to the Medicaid program that Quillivant was compliant with all regulations and concealed the fact that the drug was adulterated. As a result, Pfizer and Tris obtained reimbursement from taxpayer-funded Medicaid for Quillivant.
The lawsuit further reveals that from 2012 to 2018, Pfizer and Tris continuously manipulated Quillivant's testing to hide poor manufacturing practices and defraud the Texas Medicaid program. During this time, numerous families complained that the medication failed to work as intended.
Attorney General Ken Paxton expressed his dismay at the dishonesty uncovered in the investigation, stating, "Pfizer and Tris intentionally concealed and failed to disclose the issues with Quillivant to receive taxpayer-funded benefits through Texas Medicaid, defrauding the state and endangering children." He commended the Civil Medicaid Fraud Division for their diligent work in holding these pharmaceutical companies accountable.
The lawsuit highlights the fact that the defendants never warned Texas Medicaid providers or decision-makers about the manufacturing issues affecting Quillivant's efficacy, thereby depriving the program of crucial information. As a result, thousands of Texas children received an adulterated Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance.
The lawsuit was initially filed under seal but has now been unsealed by the judge at the Attorney General's request. The unsealed petition can be accessed here.
This lawsuit serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in the pharmaceutical industry. The Office of the Attorney General is committed to protecting the welfare of Texas children and ensuring that pharmaceutical companies adhere to the highest standards of safety and integrity.
To learn more, click on this link: https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/attorney-general-ken-paxton-sues-pfizer-and-tris-pharma-defrauding-texas-medicaid-and-providing