TEXAS — AstraZeneca has agreed to pay $34 million to resolve kickback charges filed by the Texas attorney general. The settlement was reached on June 29, 2026.

The claims alleged that AstraZeneca paid kickbacks to improperly influence prescriptions paid for by Texas Medicaid. The state alleged these kickbacks were provided through a free network of nurses and insurance support services intended to boost prescriptions of the company's medicines.

According to the state, AstraZeneca assisted in managing key aspects of patient care that a physician would typically manage or pay staff to perform. The state also alleged that AstraZeneca prompted pharmacies, pharmacy benefit managers, and other entities to submit claims to Texas Medicaid for its medications.

The state alleged that the submitted claims caused Texas Medicaid to disburse millions of dollars in reimbursements that were not authorized under the Texas Health Care Program Fraud Prevention Act. Officials said in a podcast interview that the program violations led to the unauthorized disbursements.