After Questcor, the pharmaceutical company behind Acthar, was acquired by Ireland’s Mallinckrodt, many questions began to be raised about the drug. One was the amount of money that Medicare has been paying for Acthar. In 2008, Medicare covered $141.5 million for the drug and in 2012, it covered around $220 million, increasing by almost double in just four years. Furthermore, in 2012, Medicare accounted for about a quarter of the $761 million in total Acthar sales.
Some doctors and organizations, however, are skeptical of the relationship between Medicare and Acthar. The drug is frequently prescribed to treat rare kidney diseases and relapses of multiple sclerosis but many doctors are wary of how effective the drug really is. Doctors who have ties to Questcor are also amongst the top prescribers of the drug, and many of those prescriptions are filled out through Medicare. One doctor for example, Mr. William Shaffer, wrote 78 scripts that cost Medicare more than $4 million in 2012. He also routinely gives promotional talks for Questcor, bringing into question a conflict of interest.
Legal Commentary
Attorneys within our firm are studying, examining and investigating current Acthar claims on behalf of people or families injured by the drug. Some of the side effects include abdominal pain, increase in sugar blood levels and renal failure. If you or a loved one has experienced any side effects while taking Acthar, contact our lawyers to discuss the facts of your potential case. We are available by phone for a free consultation at 1.866.705.7584 or by email at mn@fnlawfirm.com.
About the Author
Majed Nachawati is a dedicated Lawyer with a focus on representing victims and families harmed by dangerous drugs on a nationwide basis. Mr. Nachawati has resolved numerous pharmaceutical litigation cases through trial that have resulted in seven and eight figure confidential settlements. He is on the Grievance Committee for the State Bar of Texas. He is licensed to practice in the Northern, Southern, and Eastern Districts of Texas. Mr. Nachawati is a member of the Board of Directors of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, the Board of Directors for Public Justice, a Leaders’ Forum and PAC member of the American Association for Justice. Mr. Nachawati has been recognized as a Super Lawyer in Texas Monthly Magazine for the past six consecutive years for legal excellence, in connection with noteworthy settlements for pharmaceutical injury cases. Mr. Nachawati is also a member of The Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Mr. Nachawati can be reached by email at mn@fnlawfirm.com or by calling 1.866.705.7584.