The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 268 No 7193 p487-492
13 April 2002

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Serious Fraud Office (www.sfo.gov.uk)

Six generics companies are under investigation for NHS price fraud

Six generics companies are under investigation for conspiracy to defraud the National Health Service.

The Serious Fraud Office is investigating six suppliers suspected of defrauding the NHS through prices charged for penicillin-based antibiotics and warfarin between 1 January 1996 and 31 December 2000.

The suppliers under investigation are

1. Generics UK Ltd
2. Kent Pharmaceuticals Ltd
3. Regent-GM Laboratories Ltd
4. Goldshield Group Plc
5. Norton Healthcare Ltd (a subsidiary of IVAX Corp)
6. Ranbaxy (UK) Ltd (a subsidiary of Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd)

As part of the investigation, police executed search warrants at a number of business and residential addresses in England, Scotland and Wales on 10 April. No arrests were made. The Serious Fraud Office, which describes the investigation as "major", says that no charges are imminent and the investigation is expected to continue for some time.