Novartis must face claims it paid kickbacks to promote MS drug, US appeals court rules

New YORK, Dec 27 (Reuters) – A U.S. appeals court on Friday revived a whistleblower lawsuit accusing Swiss drugmaker Novartis (NOVN.S), opens new tab of paying illegal kickbacks to doctors to induce them to promote its blockbuster multiple sclerosis drug Gilenya.

In a 3-0 decision, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan said the whistleblower Steven Camburn can try to prove that Novartis violated the federal False Claims Act by holding “sham” speaker events to boost Gilenya sales.