Attorney General James Uthmeier Announces $3 Million Settlement Agreement with Gilead Sciences to Resolve Improper Promotion of HIV Drugs

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General James Uthmeier announced that Florida, along with other states and the federal government, secured a settlement agreement with Gilead Sciences, Inc. over allegations of the company paying kickbacks to providers to improperly promote HIV/AIDS drugs.

“Big Pharma corporations that put profits ahead of patients by unlawfully promoting drugs will be held accountable,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “Florida’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit works tirelessly to protect vulnerable patients and the taxpayer dollars that fund these systems.”

Gilead is a large California-based pharmaceutical company, which among other things, developed, manufactured, and sold drugs for the treatment of infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS. The company allegedly incentivized providers to improperly promote its HIV drugs, Stribild®, Genvoya®, Complera®, Odefsey®, Descovy®, and Biktarvy®. Gilead was accused of offering and paying remuneration in the form of payments, meals, and travel expenses to health care practitioners who spoke at or attended Gilead speaker events to encourage them to prescribe Gilead HIV drugs between January 2011 and November 2017. 

Florida’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit found that these unlawful actions caused false claims to be submitted to and paid by the Florida Medicaid program for Gilead HIV drugs. As part of the settlement, Gilead also made extensive factual admissions regarding its conduct. The company will pay out $3,033,238.12 to the Florida Medicaid program.

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The Florida Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigates and prosecutes providers that intentionally defraud the state’s Medicaid program through fraudulent billing practices. Medicaid fraud essentially steals from Florida’s taxpayers. Additionally, the MFCU investigates allegations of patient abuse, neglect, and exploitation in facilities receiving payments under the Medicaid program.

The Florida Medicaid Fraud Control unit is funded through a grant totaling $30,510,157 for Federal Fiscal Year 2025, from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General.  The Federal Share of these funds is 75 percent totaling $22,882,620.  The State Matching Share of these funds is 25 percent totaling $7,627,537 and is funded by Florida.