Astellas Pharma to pay $7.3M settlement

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

The U.S. Justice Department announced Wednesday that a Northbrook-based pharmaceutical company will pay $7.3 million to resolve allegations involving the marketing of the drug Mycamine.

Astellas Pharma US Inc. makes and sells Mycamine, which is used to treat invasive fungus infections.

The Justice Department investigated Astellas for alleged off-label promotion of the drug for children between 2005 and 2010. The company has denied the allegation.

The Food and Drug Administration didn’t approve the drug for use in children until June 2013.

The federal government will receive $4.2 million and state Medicaid programs will receive $3.1 million.

The company is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Astellas Pharma.