Takeda Pharmaceuticals, U.S.A. Inc. agreed to pay $13,670,921 to resolve allegations that it caused false claims to Medicare and other federal healthcare programs through improper payments linked to prescriptions of the antidepressant medication Trintellix.

The U.S. Department of Justice said the allegations involved payments to healthcare providers intended to induce prescriptions of Trintellix, which Takeda marketed for major depressive disorder.

The civil settlement resolves allegations that, from January 2014 through October 2020, Takeda provided improper remuneration, including speaker honoraria and meals at high-end restaurants, to healthcare professionals.

Federal authorities alleged Takeda selected certain healthcare providers for its Trintellix speaker bureau and offered paid speaking opportunities intended to encourage prescriptions of the drug.

The government also alleged some prescribers attended repeated programs on the same topics and received meals and drinks without receiving educational benefit.

Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division said, “The Department of Justice is committed to vigorously pursuing violations of the False Claims Act arising from illegal kickbacks.”

U.S. Attorney Eric Grant for the Eastern District of California said, “Prescribing decisions should not be influenced by drug companies’ payments or side perks made available to physicians.”

Acting Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Scott J. Lampert of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General said patient care decisions “should never be influenced by extravagant meals or other inducements.”

Special Agent in Charge John E. Helsing of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service Western Field Office said kickbacks “erode trust in healthcare providers, misuse federal healthcare funds, and put the health and readiness of our warfighters at risk.”

The Department of Justice said the Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits offering or paying anything of value to induce referrals for items or services covered by federal healthcare programs, including Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE.

The matter was handled by the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California, with assistance from the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.

The Justice Department said the claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and that there has been no determination of liability.