Novartis to pay $345 million for kickbacks abroad

Novartis will pay a stunning $345 million in federal fines, in response to criminal charges that the pharma giant bribed health care providers overseas to prescribe its medications. The company’s efforts included payments to “key opinion leaders” in South Korea, Vietnam, and Korea who were pressured to subvert clinical trials in order to increase Novartis sales, STAT’s Ed Silverman writes.

The company’s been involved in several bribery scandals over the years. Last year, the company set aside $700 million to settle other allegations of kickbacks — which included fishing trips, lavish meals, and sham speaking events.