From the Texas Attorney General's Office: AUSTIN - Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott today announced the resolution of a civil Medicaid fraud enforcement action against Swiss-based pharmaceutical drug company Novartis for unlawful and deceptive marketing of a topical skin cream product. Under today's agreement, Novartis must pay a total of $19.9 million to resolve the State of Texas and the federal government's allegations of off-label marketing. Texas' share of the settlement proceeds is $6,638,250. The State's investigation revealed that Novartis unlawfully marketed eczema drug Elidel to treat infant children while failing to disclose the drug's known harmful side effects – including cancer-related risks. Evidence uncovered by the State revealed that Novartis improperly urged physicians to prescribe Elidel to children under two years of age for purposes that had not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.