By Jon Hurdle
The settlement also resolves allegations that Merck paid inducements to doctors and other health care professionals through 2001, Patrick Meehan, U.S. attorney for Eastern Pennsylvania, said at a press conference.
"Merck believes its pricing and sales and marketing policies and practices were consistent with all applicable regulations and contracts during the relevant time," the company said.
"That price was not being offered to the government," Parker said.
In a settlement related to a matter that was pending in the Eastern District of Louisiana, Merck has agreed to pay $250 million plus interest, the company said.
Merck said in December that it would take a $670 million charge in the fourth quarter of 2007 in anticipation of these two settlements.
The agreement with federal and state authorities resolves longstanding investigations related to disputes over the proper calculation of Medicaid rebates as well as marketing activities.
(Reporting by Jon Hurdle, editing by Leslie Gevirtz)
