Ex-Amgen workers file whistleblower suits
As Thousand Oaks-based Amgen prepares to square off in court against 15 states over an alleged Medicaid kickback scheme, it’s facing two whistleblower lawsuits in Ventura County Superior Court.
The complaints, which don’t appear related to the fraud alleged by the group of states, were brought by former employees who said they uncovered wrongdoing at the biotech giant and were terminated after they raised red flags to superiors. One employee alleges the company violated federal law by under reporting complaints and problems with the company’s drugs after they hit the market.
The two whistleblower suits are percolating through the state court system as Amgen faces allegations filed in federal court in Boston on Oct. 30 that it took illegal kickbacks for Aranesp, one of the firm’s top-selling kidney drugs.
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