Valeant Pharmaceuticals is paying $54 million to settle kickback charges against its Salix unit, according to a Reuters report.
Here are six things to know:
1. Valeant's Salix unit, focused on licensing, developing and marketing gastroenterology disorder treatment products, allegedly paid illegal kickbacks to physicians for prescribing seven of its products.
2. Thousands of fraudulent reimbursement claims were submitted to the government as a result of these illegal kickbacks.
3. The alleged kickbacks were in the form of money or perks, including lavish meals.
4. A Valeant spokeswoman noted the alleged kickbacks "involved personnel who are no longer with the company," reported Reuters.
5. Whistleblowers — a physician and four former Salix employees — brought the case against Salix.
6. As per the settlement, Salix will pay $46.53 million to the United States and $7.47 million to various states.