Novartis Pharmaceuticals sued for unpaid bills
Published: Tuesday, July 06, 2010, 6:39 PM
By Susan Todd/The Star-Ledger
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A New York City-based medical marketing firm filed a lawsuit against Novartis Pharmaceuticals alleging the drugmaker owes it $10 million for outstanding invoices, lost business revenues and damaged professional relationships.
Novartis retained the Nelson Group for its access to professional U.S. athletes, from such organizations as the National Basketball Association, and nearly 100 of the nation’s leading physician speakers, according to a lawsuit filed in state Superior Court in Morris County.
In a statement, Novartis acknowledged previously working with the Nelson Group.
"We have since ended this relationship," a company spokeswoman said in the statement. "Due to pending litigation, we cannot comment further on the details of the case."
During 2008 and 2009, Nelson said it made about 500 sports personalities and physician speakers available to participate in marketing events around some of the drugmaker’s top-selling medicines, including the blood pressure pill Diovan and Enablex for overactive bladders.
In the lawsuit, Nelson said it paid the athletes, their leagues and physician speakers directly and expected to be reimbursed by Novartis.
The drugmaker, the lawsuit noted, has continuously refused to satisfy outstanding invoices totaling about $538,000.
Nelson is also seeking $6.5 million for lost revenue and compensation for the resources devoted to responding to the drugmaker’s requests for billing clarification.
Published: Tuesday, July 06, 2010, 6:39 PM
By Susan Todd/The Star-Ledger
Follow
A New York City-based medical marketing firm filed a lawsuit against Novartis Pharmaceuticals alleging the drugmaker owes it $10 million for outstanding invoices, lost business revenues and damaged professional relationships.
Novartis retained the Nelson Group for its access to professional U.S. athletes, from such organizations as the National Basketball Association, and nearly 100 of the nation’s leading physician speakers, according to a lawsuit filed in state Superior Court in Morris County.
In a statement, Novartis acknowledged previously working with the Nelson Group.
"We have since ended this relationship," a company spokeswoman said in the statement. "Due to pending litigation, we cannot comment further on the details of the case."
During 2008 and 2009, Nelson said it made about 500 sports personalities and physician speakers available to participate in marketing events around some of the drugmaker’s top-selling medicines, including the blood pressure pill Diovan and Enablex for overactive bladders.
In the lawsuit, Nelson said it paid the athletes, their leagues and physician speakers directly and expected to be reimbursed by Novartis.
The drugmaker, the lawsuit noted, has continuously refused to satisfy outstanding invoices totaling about $538,000.
Nelson is also seeking $6.5 million for lost revenue and compensation for the resources devoted to responding to the drugmaker’s requests for billing clarification.