A Charleston pharmaceutical industry whistleblower lawyer could help defend individuals who report fraud discovered in government programs that fund the pharmaceutical industry. The U.S. government plays a huge role in the regulation of pharmaceutical companies through the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act (FDCA). The FDA is responsible for protecting the American public by making sure that drugs are safe and effective for their intended purpose.
Pharmaceutical companies also have large research departments which often secure federal funding to aid in the research of new products. That is certainly true in the modern era when the U.S. government provided substantial funding for the development and distribution of many important vaccines and drugs.
Most people are familiar with the pharmaceutical industry’s ties to the government in the form of Medicare and Medicaid funds paid to drug companies. When illegal actions occur, you have the right to call it out with the aid of an experienced whistleblower attorney.
Developing a pharmaceutical drug is incredibly costly. In fact, it can cost as much as $2.8 billion for the research and development of a single product. Because merely researching a drug does not guarantee its success, funding can be a potentially risky business decision.
The federal government, however, subsidizes the early stages of drug research, especially if the drug aims at treating or inoculating a critical disease or illness. Some of the main government agencies that provide funding are the National Institute of Health (NIH), as well as The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), which handles research for the military.
If someone is misusing funds or doing something else against the rules, that is where the Charleston pharmaceutical industry whistleblower attorney comes in.
Charleston attorneys have experience in filing pharmaceutical industry whistleblower claims that fall under the jurisdiction of the federal False Claims Act (FCA). The FCA applies because many pharmaceutical companies file for payment from the federal government, and companies that file for payments from the U.S. government must do so in good faith. Intentional fraud and wrongdoing during the claims process are illegal. Claims for products not delivered or overstating the costs of products in a contract bid are further examples of illegal activity.
Federal law codifies potential rewards for whistleblowers who come forward to regulatory agencies with information that leads to a conviction under the FCA. Drug company whistleblower attorneys in Charleston are experienced at submitting a writ of Qui Tam demanding the reward as a percent of the funds recovered.
A lawyer could help gather the information necessary to file the report to the appropriate regulatory agency, as well as the Qui Tam demand for a reward.
If someone has information about fraud or misconduct covered under the False Claims Act, it is strongly recommended that they contact a local attorney. That attorney could investigate the False Claims Act case, gather the appropriate fraud claim information, and document the assertions before helping the whistleblower submit the required reports to the appropriate agencies.
It is important that government funds are used legally and appropriately, and that the public has faith that these institutions are working as intended. Contact us today for a consultation regarding any fraudulent activity that you have witnessed related to the pharmaceutical industry. One of our Charleston pharmaceutical industry whistleblower attorneys will be happy to assist you in reporting this behavior.
