US: Valeant Pharmaceutical’s CEO agrees to be deposed by Senate committee

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc’s outgoing chief executive, Michael Pearson, consented to be deposed by a U.S. Senate committee later this month, after the panel threatened to hold him in contempt for failing to comply with a subpoena.

The Senate Special Committee on Aging said on Wednesday that Pearson will be deposed on April 18 ahead of an April 27 hearing that is part of its ongoing investigation into the rising prices of off-patent drugs, including two of Valeant’s heart medications.

The deposition and hearing are coming at a critical time for the company, which is facing an onslaught of federal investigations into a wide variety of issues, from drug pricing and antitrust matters to its accounting and disclosures.

The panel had been slated later on Wednesday to vote on whether to initiate contempt proceedings against Pearson, after he failed to show up last week for a deposition.

The committee said it postponed the meeting after Pearson agreed to be interviewed under oath.

Full Content: Financial Post

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