07:01 AM EST, 01/27/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Pfizer ( PFE ) agreed to pay about $59.7 million to settle allegations that Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding, before being acquired by Pfizer ( PFE ), defrauded several US health care programs by paying kickbacks to doctors to drive prescriptions of its Nurtec ODT drug for migraine, the US Department of Justice said Friday.

According to the statement, Biohaven allegedly paid "improper remuneration" to healthcare professionals from March 1, 2020, through September 30, 2022, to induce them to prescribe Nurtec ODT and subsequently submit false claims to Medicare and other federal healthcare programs.

The Justice Department said the settlement also resolves a suit filed by a former Biohaven sales representative. However, it was noted that the settlement only resolved allegations, and no liability was determined.

Pfizer ( PFE ) and Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding did not immediately respond to MT Newswires' requests for comments.