Yesterday, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launched a lawsuit against pharmaceutical mammoths Pfizer, Inc., and Tris Pharma, Inc., including Tris CEO Ketan Mehta. They are accused of defrauding the Texas Medicaid Program by intentionally supplying adulterated drugs to children. Their actions are in direct violation of state and federal laws, according to a study led by the Civil Medicaid Fraud Division as stated in The Office of the Attorney General Official Website.
Reportedly, Pfizer had a contract with Tris Pharma to produce Quillivant XR, a pediatric attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication. The allegations claim that despite the product continuously failing quality control tests resulting from flawed manufacturing practices, Pfizer still furnished it to Medicaid-supported children. Throughout the years, to keep their medication market-competitive, Tris allegedly manipulated the drug's testing method while also violating state and federal laws as stated in The Office of the Attorney General Official Website.
Pfizer and Tris Pharma reportedly neglected to inform Medicaid providers or decision-makers about these transgressions and continued to dispense adulterated medication to thousands of Texas children. As a result, many families reported the treatment as ineffective.
Attorney General Paxton's is simply dismayed at the apparent disregard for child health, accusing the companies of prioritizing profit over welfare. Central to this case is the question of corporate accountability, with a constant reminder of claims by past whistleblowers about the profit-first culture of pharmaceutical companies.
Initially filed under seal, the lawsuit was recently unsealed at the request of the Attorney General. The unsealed court documents describe the alleged wrongdoing by the companies and their attempts to conceal their actions from Medicaid decision-makers.
