Investing.com -- Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ: GILD ), a leading American biopharmaceutical company, has agreed to pay a $202 million settlement to resolve a civil fraud lawsuit. The U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan stated on Tuesday that the lawsuit accused Gilead of paying kickbacks to doctors who agreed to prescribe its HIV drugs.

The settlement brings an end to claims that Gilead compensated doctors with honoraria, meals, and travel expenses to encourage them to prescribe several of its HIV drugs. These doctors were attendees at Gilead speaker events.

U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton stated that this practice violated the federal False Claims Act. This act was breached as the inducements led to claims being paid by federal healthcare programs. The settlement thus concludes a significant legal challenge for Gilead Sciences.

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