NJ Cancer Doc, A Morris Co. Resident, Sold Drugs For Profit, Feds Say

TOWACO, NJ - A Morris County doctor admitted to using her medical license, as well as allowing others to use it, to sell oncology drugs for profit, federal officials said.

Board-certified oncologist Anise Kachadourian, 55, of Towaco, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton in Newark federal court on Wednesday to illegally selling a prescription cancer medication, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said in a statement.

While working in her medical practice’s various offices in the state, Kachadourian was recruited by an individual who owned both a pharmacy and two wholesale prescription drugs distributors, according to documents filed in the case and statements made in court.

Kachadourian practiced at offices in Old Bridge and Union, according to a public records search.

In exchange for payments of $5,000 per month, Kachadourian used her medical license - and allowed others to use it - to purchase expensive prescription drugs, Sellinger said. These drugs were mostly cold-chain biologic infusion medications used to treat cancers, macular degeneration and autoimmune diseases.

The conspirators were then able to obtain prescription drugs from the pharmaceutical manufacturers’ authorized distributors and sold them at a profit through their two businesses, Selinger said.

As part of the scheme, Kachadourian made “false and misleading representations” to the manufacturers and distributors, including that Kachadourian purchased the drugs to use to treat patients and that the drugs would not be resold or redistributed, Sellinger said.

“In actuality, none of the drugs were administered to any of Kachadourian’s patients, but were ultimately sold to customers of the two businesses,” federal officials said.

For over two years, Kachadourian was paid over $170,000 for purchasing and allowing others to purchase millions of dollars in prescription drugs during the scheme. Kachadourian is the third doctor who has pleaded guilty in connection with the drug ring, federal officials said.

Kachadourian faces up to three years in prison and a $10,000 fine. As part of her plea agreement, she agreed to pay the full amount of any loss resulting from her doing.

Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 6, 2024.