Amgen, the world's largest biotechnology firm, pleaded guilty in federal court in New York to criminal charges that it illegally misbranded its anemia drug Aranesp and agreed to pay $762 million in criminal fines and a civil settlement.
The Thousand Oaks, Calif.-based company entered its guilty plea earlier today and has agreed to pay $136 million in criminal fines and $14 million in forfeiture, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York.
The total settlement, which was not disclosed by the U.S. attorney's office, will include a $612 million civil settlement, according to a law firm representing a whistle-blower who was involved in the investigation.
The judge deferred final acceptance of the plea and the entry of conviction until the sentencing proceeding, which is scheduled take place Wednesday. The entire settlement, including the whistle-blower lawsuits, is expected to be released Wednesdsay.