Tris was contracted by Pfizer to manufacture the ADHD medicine for paediatric use to be supplied under Medicaid. Credit: Suzanne Tucker / Shutterstock.com.

The Civil Medicaid Fraud Division at the office of Texas Attorney General (AG) Ken Paxton has sued Pfizer and its contractor Tris Pharma for providing adulterated attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) drug, Quillivant XR, to children.

The AG alleges that these companies defrauded the Texas Medicaid programme by offering adulterated drugs to children in the US state of Texas.

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This also violated the Texas Medicaid Fraud Prevention Act, now known as the Texas Health Care Program Fraud Prevention Act (THFPA).

Drug manufacturer Tris was contracted by Pfizer to produce ADHD medicine for paediatric use to be supplied under Medicaid. 

A press filing published on Attor­ney Gen­er­al Ken Pax­ton’s website states: “Pfizer knowingly distributed Quillivant to children on Medicaid despite the drug’s pattern of failing quality control tests due to flawed manufacturing practices. 

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“For years, Tris altered the drug’s testing method in violation of federal and state laws to ensure Quillivant passed regulatory hurdles and could continue to be sold. “ 

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The lawsuit claims that Pfizer misrepresented that the ADHD drug complied with federal and state laws and hid the fact that it was adulterated.

The companies misrepresented testing of the drug to cover up poor production practices and defraud the programme, the lawsuit alleges.

Paxton stated: “I am horrified by the dishonesty we uncovered in this investigation. 

“Pfizer and Tris intentionally concealed and failed to disclose the issues with Quillivant to receive taxpayer-funded benefits through Texas Medicaid, defrauding the state and endangering children. Our Civil Medicaid Fraud Division has done an outstanding job holding these pharmaceutical companies accountable.”  

In its initial stage, the petition against Pfizer and Tris was filed under seal, but the judge unsealed the lawsuit following a request from the Texas AG.