Over the past six months, California state authorities fined more than a dozen drug makers a total of $17.5 million for failing to report price hikes as required by law, and more than half of the penalties were levied since the beginning of the year, according to data obtained by STAT.
To date, the state has only collected $4.8 million, as some fines were settled for lower amounts and other companies have yet to either make a payment or reach a settlement, according to a spokesperson for the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, which administers the law. Fines were assessed based on the number of days for which pricing reports were late.
The largest accrued penalty — $3.6 million — was levied against Collegium Pharmaceutical. We asked the company, which has not yet paid, for comment and will pass along any reply. Celgene was penalized $3.5 million, but settled for $600,000. And Supernus Pharmaceuticals was fined $2.4 million, although a spokesperson insisted the company is in compliance and is appealing the penalty.
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