Ken Paxton Secures $41.5 Million Settlement Over ADHD Medication

Attorney General Ken Paxton has announced a $41.5 million settlement with pharmaceutical giants Pfizer and Tris Pharma after allegations that the companies knowingly provided adulterated ADHD medication to Texas children on Medicaid.

The settlement comes after the state accused the companies of violating the Texas Health Care Program Fraud Prevention Act by manipulating drug testing results and compromising medication quality.

Attorney General Paxton condemned the companies' conduct, stating that he will not hesitate to confront corporations that "deceive and take advantage of Texans."

"Pfizer and Tris Pharma provided adulterated drugs to children for years and changed test results to obtain the benefit of taxpayer-funded Medicaid reimbursement," the attorney general said. "Under my watch, Big Pharma will not escape justice for lying about the effectiveness of its drugs."

The lawsuit, filed in November 2023, alleged that the companies knowingly distributed Quillivant XR, a liquid ADHD medication, despite repeated failures in quality control testing from 2012 to 2018.

According to the state, manufacturing defects at Tris Pharma led to inconsistent drug potency. Instead of resolving the issue, the companies altered testing methods to ensure the drug would appear compliant with regulatory standards.

This allowed the medication to remain on the market and continue receiving reimbursement through Medicaid.

As part of the settlement, Pfizer and Tris Pharma have agreed to pay $41.5 million and commit to following all federal and state laws governing drug manufacturing and distribution.

The Attorney General's Office says the agreement marks a significant step toward accountability and strengthening protections for children in Texas's healthcare programs.