Mallinckrodt Announces Agreement In Principle With U.S. Department Of Justice On Legacy Questcor Sales And Marketing Activities; Responds To Government Civil Litigation Involving Legacy Questcor Charitable Foundation Activities
-- Expects settlement of $15.4 million with no admission of wrongdoing --
-- Company intends to vigorously defend legacy Questcor charitable foundation practices against allegations in DOJ civil complaint --
STAINES-UPON-THAMES, United Kingdom, June 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Mallinckrodt plc (NYSE: MNK), a global specialty biopharmaceutical company, today reported the company has reached an agreement in principle with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to resolve the previously disclosed government investigation of Questcor's legacy sales and marketing activities, which is still subject to the finalization of certain terms. Under the civil False Claims Act settlement, Mallinckrodt expects to pay $15.4 million relating to legacy Questcor activities. While the agreement will not contain any admission of wrongdoing, it believes the agreement is fair and reasonable under the circumstances, and should put to rest these government claims relating to Questcor's sales and marketing activities.
With respect to allegations in the newly filed DOJ civil complaint covering alleged legacy Questcor charitable foundation conduct between 2010 and 2014, the government is seeking to recover unspecified monetary damages for alleged violations of the False Claims Act and the Anti-Kickback Statute. Contrary to the DOJ's characterizations in the complaint, the allegations relate to legacy Questcor conduct as all the donations to the Chronic Disease Fund (CDF) referenced in the complaint occurred prior to the acquisition of Questcor or were for grandfathered patients who had been approved by CDF for co-pay assistance prior to the acquisition. Mallinckrodt acquired Questcor in August 2014.
During the applicable period, CDF operated under a U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG)-issued advisory opinion, and CDF represented to Questcor that it operated in compliance with that opinion. In addition, the HHS-OIG stated in 2005 that single-donor, single-drug funds may, under prescribed circumstances, be lawful, and the agency reiterated publicly that position nearly a dozen times during the period in the complaint. Mallinckrodt believes Questcor's relationship with CDF fell within this guidance, and as such was lawful and appropriate. Mallinckrodt denies any wrongdoing on the part of Questcor during the relevant period, and intends to vigorously defend the company in this matter.
"Mallinckrodt looks forward to finalizing our settlement agreement with the government relating to legacy Questcor sales and marketing activities. As we have said repeatedly, where we can resolve legacy legal matters in a reasonable and manageable way, we will do so," said Mark Casey, General Counsel, Mallinckrodt. "Unfortunately, that has not been possible to date regarding the allegations relating to Questcor's charitable foundation activities, despite what we believe was lawful and appropriate activity. We are confident that the litigation process will focus the contested issues and be a productive step in reaching resolution."
ABOUT MALLINCKRODT
Mallinckrodt is a global business consisting of multiple wholly owned subsidiaries that develop, manufacture, market and distribute specialty pharmaceutical products and therapies. The company's Specialty Brands reportable segment's areas of focus include autoimmune and rare diseases in specialty areas like neurology, rheumatology, nephrology, pulmonology and ophthalmology; immunotherapy and neonatal respiratory critical care therapies; analgesics and gastrointestinal products. Its Specialty Generics reportable segment includes specialty generic drugs and active pharmaceutical ingredients. To learn more about Mallinckrodt, visit www.mallinckrodt.com.
Mallinckrodt uses its website as a channel of distribution of important company information, such as press releases, investor presentations and other financial information. It also uses its website to expedite public access to time-critical information regarding the company in advance of or in lieu of distributing a press release or a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) disclosing the same information. Therefore, investors should look to the Investor Relations page of the website for important and time-critical information. Visitors to the website can also register to receive automatic e-mail and other notifications alerting them when new information is made available on the Investor Relations page of the website.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS RELATED TO FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This release includes forward-looking statements concerning Acthar Gel and related legal matters. The statements are based on assumptions about many important factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, and such factors are identified and described in more detail in the "Risk Factors" section of Mallinckrodt's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings with the SEC, all of which are available on its website. The forward-looking statements made herein speak only as of the date hereof and Mallinckrodt does not assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events and developments or otherwise, except as required by law.
CONTACTS
Media
Daniel Yunger
Kekst CNC
212-521-4879
[email protected]
Investor Relations
Daniel J. Speciale, CPA
Vice President, Investor Relations and IRO
314-654-3638
[email protected]
Mallinckrodt, the "M" brand mark and the Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals logo are trademarks of a Mallinckrodt company. Other brands are trademarks of a Mallinckrodt company or their respective owners. © 2019 Mallinckrodt. 6/19
SOURCE Mallinckrodt plc
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