Sun Pharma Subsidiary to Pay DOJ $21 Million over Keratosis Drug Promotion

Sun Pharma subsidiary DUSA Pharmaceuticals has agreed to pay $20.75 million to settle allegations by the Department of Justice (DOJ) relating to its promotion of Levulan Kerastick (aminolevulinic acid), a topical treatment for actinic keratosis.

DUSA is accused of causing physicians to submit false claims to Medicare by issuing misleading instructions to them on the use of the product that made the treatments less effective so patients required repeated treatments.  

The allegations stemmed from a 2016 whistleblower complaint by a former DUSA sales representative, Aaron Chung, who will receive $3.5 million as part of the settlement.