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False Claims: One Insider’s Impossible Battle Against Big Pharma Corruption – A Mother and Whistleblower's Decade-Long Fight for Truth
In Big Pharma, lives are secondary to profit margins. But Lisa Pratta stood her ground—risking everything to expose the lies of a billion-dollar pharmaceutical business mired in deception, greed, and the systemic abuse of both patients and employees
As a rising star in pharmaceutical sales, Lisa Pratta wanted to believe that she was helping improve the lives of people who suffered from illness. But as she climbed the corporate ladder, she uncovered a sinister world of bribery, fraud, and sexual harassment—all papered over with a thin veneer of corporate respectability.
At Questcor Pharmaceuticals, Lisa found herself at a small company with a blockbuster drug that could have been a lifeline for patients suffering from multiple sclerosis—that is, if it was prescribed properly. But instead, Questcor chose profits over patients, training its sales force to push untested treatment regimens with the sole purpose of beating its competition. Lisa recognized this as not only dangerous but highly illegal. In the midst of this controversy, Questcor arbitrarily inflated the drug’s price to a jaw-dropping $28,000 per vial. Torn between her morals and the financial stability the job provided for her special-needs son, Lisa made a decision that would change her life she reported the fraudulent practices of the company to the federal government.
For nearly a decade, she led a double life—feeding insider information to the Department of Justice while enduring the relentless demands of her company to sell their drug using illegal marketing tactics. She faced constant fear of exposure, knowing that the government offered her no protection if her secrets were revealed. Nonetheless, Lisa pressed on, determined to hold Questcor accountable for the laws they were breaking and the lives they were endangering.
This incredible true story offers a sobering look at the unscrupulous sales methods used by America’s corrupt pharmaceutical industry, spotlights the levers they pull to extract ludicrous profits from the sick and dying, and is a page-turning portrait of one woman’s heroic fight against Big Pharma and a mother’s struggle to protect her family.
As a rising star in pharmaceutical sales, Lisa Pratta wanted to believe that she was helping improve the lives of people who suffered from illness. But as she climbed the corporate ladder, she uncovered a sinister world of bribery, fraud, and sexual harassment—all papered over with a thin veneer of corporate respectability.
At Questcor Pharmaceuticals, Lisa found herself at a small company with a blockbuster drug that could have been a lifeline for patients suffering from multiple sclerosis—that is, if it was prescribed properly. But instead, Questcor chose profits over patients, training its sales force to push untested treatment regimens with the sole purpose of beating its competition. Lisa recognized this as not only dangerous but highly illegal. In the midst of this controversy, Questcor arbitrarily inflated the drug’s price to a jaw-dropping $28,000 per vial. Torn between her morals and the financial stability the job provided for her special-needs son, Lisa made a decision that would change her life she reported the fraudulent practices of the company to the federal government.
For nearly a decade, she led a double life—feeding insider information to the Department of Justice while enduring the relentless demands of her company to sell their drug using illegal marketing tactics. She faced constant fear of exposure, knowing that the government offered her no protection if her secrets were revealed. Nonetheless, Lisa pressed on, determined to hold Questcor accountable for the laws they were breaking and the lives they were endangering.
This incredible true story offers a sobering look at the unscrupulous sales methods used by America’s corrupt pharmaceutical industry, spotlights the levers they pull to extract ludicrous profits from the sick and dying, and is a page-turning portrait of one woman’s heroic fight against Big Pharma and a mother’s struggle to protect her family.
282 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 3, 2025
34 people are currently reading
3536 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
December 3, 2024
I received a free copy of, False Claims, by Lisa Pratta, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Lisa is a whistleblower, she helped expose big pharma. For years Lisa gave info to the Department of Justice. The greed of big pharma knows no end. This was an eye opening read. I knew big pharma was bad, but I did not realize how bad.
August 4, 2025
Lisa Pratta is a former pharmaceutical sales rep; her 2025 book False Claims is part memoir, part whistleblower exposé about the pharmaceutical industry's ethically murky underbelly, specifically focusing on Pratta's final pharma employer, Questcor Pharmaceuticals, later acquired by Mallinckrodt. Pratta's role at Questcor involved all the usual rep tactics: wining and dining physicians, cozying up to staff, and hosting “educational” events for patients and healthcare professionals that looked a lot like marketing, in support of their drug Acthar for multiple sclerosis flare-ups. (Note: Acthar is essentially adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) derived from pig pituitary glands that functions to stimulate endogenous steroid release and is given as an injection or a gel; it was competing in the multiple sclerosis market against solu-medrol, aka methylprednisolone, aka a moderately powerful steroid that's generally given intravenously for MS flareups. Both drugs are relatively cheap to produce but sold for exorbitantly more due to patent protection, greed, etc.)
As a physician myself, albeit in a non-patient-facing specialty (by choice), I’ve always viewed sales tactics of the pharma industry with deep skepticism. One pain management elective in medical school was particularly eye-opening. This was pre-opioid-crisis, and the doctor I worked with was a prolific prescriber of medications now known to have fueled the epidemic. Sales reps came in with Starbucks orders for the whole staff at least weekly to thank this doctor for being a high-volume prescriber. It made me feel very icky.
So I didn't go into False Claims expecting to be shocked, but even so, some of the Questcor practices Pratta describes are quite egregious. Promoting off-label use of drugs, pre-filling referral forms, giving gift cards as incentives—it’s all here. What’s unique is Pratta’s dual role: for nearly a decade, she remained employed at Questcor while simultaneously acting as a government informant. She worked with a law firm to build a federal case, submitting reams of documentation in the hope that the Department of Justice would take action. Eventually, it did—but the resolution was anticlimactic, and Pratta’s life was turned upside down in the process.
That said, I had mixed feelings about the book itself. On one hand, it pulls back the curtain on an industry that thrives on opacity. On the other, Pratta’s own complicity is hard to ignore. She lived the high life - luxury cars, luxury trips, a generous paycheck - for years, and I'm talking about the decades she worked in pharma sales before Questcor. The book leans heavily into her personal hardship, including an abusive childhood, a difficult divorce, parenting a child with special needs, a dramatic (and ultimately miraculously resolved) cancer diagnosis. I don't have reason to think Pratta is lying about any of these stressors, but together they read like a plea for sympathy that risks undermining the core message. For someone so concerned about job security, she seemed to be living well beyond her means (an expensive house, luxury cars, an expensive hobby in antiquing), which calls into question the degree of hardship she frames around financial need. Still, she paid a sizeable personal cost in becoming a whistleblower and doing the right thing that's admirable.
Ultimately, False Claims is worthwhile as a case study of how bad actors in pharma operate, and how hard it is to hold them accountable. But if you’re looking for a more balanced or investigational take, I’ll include some further recommendations below that are presented in a more comprehensive or objective way.
Further reading: pharma
No More Tears: The Dark Secrets of Johnson & Johnson by Gardiner Harris
Pharma: Greed, Lies, and the Poisoning of America by Gerald Posner
Bad Science by Ben Goldacre
Death in Mud Lick: A Coal Country Fight against the Drug Companies That Delivered the Opioid Epidemic by Eric Eyre
My statistics:
Book 241 for 2025
Book 2167 cumulatively
As a physician myself, albeit in a non-patient-facing specialty (by choice), I’ve always viewed sales tactics of the pharma industry with deep skepticism. One pain management elective in medical school was particularly eye-opening. This was pre-opioid-crisis, and the doctor I worked with was a prolific prescriber of medications now known to have fueled the epidemic. Sales reps came in with Starbucks orders for the whole staff at least weekly to thank this doctor for being a high-volume prescriber. It made me feel very icky.
So I didn't go into False Claims expecting to be shocked, but even so, some of the Questcor practices Pratta describes are quite egregious. Promoting off-label use of drugs, pre-filling referral forms, giving gift cards as incentives—it’s all here. What’s unique is Pratta’s dual role: for nearly a decade, she remained employed at Questcor while simultaneously acting as a government informant. She worked with a law firm to build a federal case, submitting reams of documentation in the hope that the Department of Justice would take action. Eventually, it did—but the resolution was anticlimactic, and Pratta’s life was turned upside down in the process.
That said, I had mixed feelings about the book itself. On one hand, it pulls back the curtain on an industry that thrives on opacity. On the other, Pratta’s own complicity is hard to ignore. She lived the high life - luxury cars, luxury trips, a generous paycheck - for years, and I'm talking about the decades she worked in pharma sales before Questcor. The book leans heavily into her personal hardship, including an abusive childhood, a difficult divorce, parenting a child with special needs, a dramatic (and ultimately miraculously resolved) cancer diagnosis. I don't have reason to think Pratta is lying about any of these stressors, but together they read like a plea for sympathy that risks undermining the core message. For someone so concerned about job security, she seemed to be living well beyond her means (an expensive house, luxury cars, an expensive hobby in antiquing), which calls into question the degree of hardship she frames around financial need. Still, she paid a sizeable personal cost in becoming a whistleblower and doing the right thing that's admirable.
Ultimately, False Claims is worthwhile as a case study of how bad actors in pharma operate, and how hard it is to hold them accountable. But if you’re looking for a more balanced or investigational take, I’ll include some further recommendations below that are presented in a more comprehensive or objective way.
Further reading: pharma
No More Tears: The Dark Secrets of Johnson & Johnson by Gardiner Harris
Pharma: Greed, Lies, and the Poisoning of America by Gerald Posner
Bad Science by Ben Goldacre
Death in Mud Lick: A Coal Country Fight against the Drug Companies That Delivered the Opioid Epidemic by Eric Eyre
My statistics:
Book 241 for 2025
Book 2167 cumulatively
January 6, 2025
Author Lisa Pratta is a 30-plus year veteran in pharmaceutical sales. She becomes unsettled on how her employer Questcor is using a multiple sclerosis drug inappropriately.
She and a former colleague decide to become whistleblowers and blow the lid off after becoming uncomfortable with practices and greed. We get a very clear picture on how this company and industry is driven by money and not patient health.
This begins an almost 10 year professional and personal battles of such high stress. As a single mom of a special needs son, she's in fear of losing the very job she's trying to take down.
Written in a readable format. We get a background of Pratta's childhood that made her the person she was to stand up to corruption and greed.
Was it all for nothing? Will anything change in a symbiotic relationship of Big Pharma and the Government? Pratta's version gives us a look into such corruption that you very much feel a David and Goliath situation.
Thanks to William Morrow Paperbacks, Harper Collins, and Goodreads for the unedited ARC edition. All opinions and thoughts expressed are my own.
She and a former colleague decide to become whistleblowers and blow the lid off after becoming uncomfortable with practices and greed. We get a very clear picture on how this company and industry is driven by money and not patient health.
This begins an almost 10 year professional and personal battles of such high stress. As a single mom of a special needs son, she's in fear of losing the very job she's trying to take down.
Written in a readable format. We get a background of Pratta's childhood that made her the person she was to stand up to corruption and greed.
Was it all for nothing? Will anything change in a symbiotic relationship of Big Pharma and the Government? Pratta's version gives us a look into such corruption that you very much feel a David and Goliath situation.
Thanks to William Morrow Paperbacks, Harper Collins, and Goodreads for the unedited ARC edition. All opinions and thoughts expressed are my own.
December 20, 2024
WON FROM GOODREADS. Lisa is a brave lady for doing the right thing, against all odds. So happy that she triumphed over her personal setbacks and stayed the course. In telling her story, also admired her voice being strong and unemotional and sticking to her narrative. Also really loved her maternal side still being a supporting character along with her son. Made the story all that more personal.
November 10, 2024
My first time having an opportunity to read a pre-release book through Net Galley. So thankful to start with such a great offering by William Morrow publishing in this personal account by pharma whistleblower Lisa Pratta. Pratta does an excellent job of delivering on this first person account of her nearly 10 year struggle to bring a case against her employer that distributes an injectable therapy meant for treatment of patients suffering relapses from MS. She does an excellent job of telling this story without getting too technical and keeping the story compelling and interesting ( choosing wisely at times to fast forward two years or so in her story). The narrative of her quest for justice along with her own backstory of childhood abuse and mothering a special needs son ( oh yeah and her diagnosis of her own malady) is very compelling and should not be missed. We see some of the typical revelations of misdeeds by the big pharma company that we are unfortunately accustomed to after the opioid crises and bad players such as Purdue Pharma. While it’s debatable whether “Justice” is served in the end, it is not due to Pratta’s role as a whistleblower. The author is inspiring in her story telling. I hope this book finds an audience once released. I could see it as a good movie adaptation of a book also and for some reason could picture Amy Adams as playing the role of Lisa Pratta. Thanks again Net Galley.
September 15, 2025
The author of this book, Lisa Pratta, had a successful career as a pharmaceutical representative that sold drugs to doctor's offices. Pratta was employed by Questcor for several years, beginning in 2010, where she was a decent seller. Pratta genuinely wanted to help people by helping facilitate access to medications that could treat their diseases, specifically multiple sclerosis. One of the drugs she sold, Acthar, helped relieve symptoms from autoimmune and inflammatory issues. The company wanted to push this drug, jacking the price up exponentially, lying about the effectiveness and uses to sell more. The company instructed the representatives to leave pre-filled out requests for drugs and facilitated pay offs in the form of gift cards, cash incentives, etc. The expense charges from high selling reps back to the company was astronomical, they were not only paying off doctor's and their staff, but buying personal items as well. The company was raking in millions of dollars while scamming insurance companies and delivering false hope to people in need. Pratta would join another former coworker to become a whistleblowing spy. She provided her lawyers with a multitude of evidence, including a vial of the drug to show how small of an amount it was for such an astronomical price. She was eventually fired from the position after filing an HR complaint against her new boss after the sale of the company.
In 2019, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Mallinckrodt, the company that bought out Questcor. I won't give away details of that case and how it played out for anyone interested in the book. I will say that I thought it was an interesting memoir, as I do not think I have read one by a whistleblower before. It is also a firm exclamation point that the drug companies are shady as all get out. I listened to this book at work with my available Spotify hours, so if you are interested in listening on that format, it is available there.
In 2019, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Mallinckrodt, the company that bought out Questcor. I won't give away details of that case and how it played out for anyone interested in the book. I will say that I thought it was an interesting memoir, as I do not think I have read one by a whistleblower before. It is also a firm exclamation point that the drug companies are shady as all get out. I listened to this book at work with my available Spotify hours, so if you are interested in listening on that format, it is available there.
June 16, 2025
This was so dystopian to read about as a European. Not that we're exempt from corruption but Sheesh.
June 8, 2025
In another episode of Big Pharma behaving badly, we have False Claims.
Written in a memoir-like style, author Lisa Pratta details her time working for Questcor as a sales representative for a medication they acquired called Acthar Gel. Pratta and a co-worker ultimately become whistleblowers after uncovering deceptive marketing practices, bribes, and other unlawful behavior being encouraged at the company.
Earlier this year, I read No More Tears by Gardiner Harris (which I highly recommend if you’re interested in learning more about unethical practices in the pharmaceutical industry). False Claims is a more digestible read by comparison. Pratta writes from a first-person perspective, taking us through her journey—from being hired and trained to becoming disillusioned. She also shares personal reflections from that time in her life, including her experiences as a mother and cancer survivor.
Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for an advance reader’s copy of False Claims.
Written in a memoir-like style, author Lisa Pratta details her time working for Questcor as a sales representative for a medication they acquired called Acthar Gel. Pratta and a co-worker ultimately become whistleblowers after uncovering deceptive marketing practices, bribes, and other unlawful behavior being encouraged at the company.
Earlier this year, I read No More Tears by Gardiner Harris (which I highly recommend if you’re interested in learning more about unethical practices in the pharmaceutical industry). False Claims is a more digestible read by comparison. Pratta writes from a first-person perspective, taking us through her journey—from being hired and trained to becoming disillusioned. She also shares personal reflections from that time in her life, including her experiences as a mother and cancer survivor.
Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for an advance reader’s copy of False Claims.
August 17, 2025
I learned a lot from this book about how pharmaceutical companies market their drugs. When I was a kid, I helped my parents clean at a local doctors’ office. The kitchen trashcan was often stuffed with wrappers from catered lunches that the drug reps brought in for the office staff. Sometimes owner’s wife would give us leftovers from the fridge. There was always plenty of freebie office supplies and stress balls with the drug reps company name laying around too.
Of course, is how sales work, but we want doctors to make decisions based on evidence, not which reps give the best kickbacks.
This book explains in layman’s terms how drugs are marketed and how difficult it is to bring pharmaceutical companies to justice for excesses. This book follows the case of a company that took a drug worth $40 a vial in 2000 to charging $39,000 a vial in 2019. The drug was made from pituitary glands of pigs, cheaply available at your local slaughterhouse, so this wasn’t a manufacturing cost, and it had been used for decades already so there was no research cost; the mark-up-was motivated by profit.
The book seems apolitical, the author doesn’t suggest that all the healthcare problems would be whisked away if we would only move to a socialized healthcare system. She seems to realize that the root problem is greed, and that the government is every bit as capable of greed as companies are.
Also not anti-medical, the book is very respectful of the science of medicine and many of the practitioners. Definitely not a crunchy, “The doctors are out to kill you!” conspiratorial book.
Very readable, the author includes just enough of her personal life to keep the story moving and help us understand why she made the choices she did.
Of course, is how sales work, but we want doctors to make decisions based on evidence, not which reps give the best kickbacks.
This book explains in layman’s terms how drugs are marketed and how difficult it is to bring pharmaceutical companies to justice for excesses. This book follows the case of a company that took a drug worth $40 a vial in 2000 to charging $39,000 a vial in 2019. The drug was made from pituitary glands of pigs, cheaply available at your local slaughterhouse, so this wasn’t a manufacturing cost, and it had been used for decades already so there was no research cost; the mark-up-was motivated by profit.
The book seems apolitical, the author doesn’t suggest that all the healthcare problems would be whisked away if we would only move to a socialized healthcare system. She seems to realize that the root problem is greed, and that the government is every bit as capable of greed as companies are.
Also not anti-medical, the book is very respectful of the science of medicine and many of the practitioners. Definitely not a crunchy, “The doctors are out to kill you!” conspiratorial book.
Very readable, the author includes just enough of her personal life to keep the story moving and help us understand why she made the choices she did.
December 2, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and William Morrow for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 17, 2025
I won this in a goodreads giveaway and wasn’t sure it would be worth reading, not my usual genre. While the writing wasn’t excellent and some times where it tried to portray emotion it fell flat, it was an absolute page turner. Definitely worth the read.
June 25, 2025
There are so many opportunities for greed to show its ugly face in the world and Lisa Pratta is able to capture and give insight to the greed that exists within pharma.
The writing style is choppy and some of the facts and scenarios seem questionable. Her perspective also shows her motivation for financial gain through bigger paychecks and hopeful large sum payouts.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
The writing style is choppy and some of the facts and scenarios seem questionable. Her perspective also shows her motivation for financial gain through bigger paychecks and hopeful large sum payouts.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
October 31, 2024
False Claims by Lisa Pratta is a memoir of a brave whistleblower who worked with the Department of Justice to uncover the corruption of pharmaceutical sales by Questcor. Taking significant personal risks, she supported an investigation for many years. This book documents her incredible story.
I read this book in one sitting. The writing is clear and accessible. Although this book is nonfiction it reads like a novel. I highly recommend it.
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I read this book in one sitting. The writing is clear and accessible. Although this book is nonfiction it reads like a novel. I highly recommend it.
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 11, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️
I understand why this is labeled as a memoir. It gives the author’s account of her time as a pharmaceutical rep that sold a drug for Multiple Sclerosis. About a year into her job, she became a whistle blower for the government about how pharma companies spend money bribing front office staff, paying doctors to be a speaker for drugs, getting all expense paid trips and kick backs to doctors.
I am not shocked by any revelation made in this book; but I am a little surprised by the self righteousness of the author. She says she “sacrificed” her job and wasn’t looking for a payday and yet she was completely upset that she didn’t get paid more, etc. It was hard to hear the bad luck she had about the plumbers and pipe fitters and that she got stuck holding the bag on that deal.
Overall, this was a tell all about how crooked the pharma industry is and that the government (just like most others) does not care about the individuals but more about making money.
The commentary in the epilogue about her childhood and being okay with where she is in the present was refreshing and I, personally, am glad she was able to move past those feelings of the past. No child deserves the childhood she had.
Overall, I don’t think this was enlightening for the majority of people who have ever worked with a pharma company, but it definitely reinforced how snake-like they are.
I understand why this is labeled as a memoir. It gives the author’s account of her time as a pharmaceutical rep that sold a drug for Multiple Sclerosis. About a year into her job, she became a whistle blower for the government about how pharma companies spend money bribing front office staff, paying doctors to be a speaker for drugs, getting all expense paid trips and kick backs to doctors.
I am not shocked by any revelation made in this book; but I am a little surprised by the self righteousness of the author. She says she “sacrificed” her job and wasn’t looking for a payday and yet she was completely upset that she didn’t get paid more, etc. It was hard to hear the bad luck she had about the plumbers and pipe fitters and that she got stuck holding the bag on that deal.
Overall, this was a tell all about how crooked the pharma industry is and that the government (just like most others) does not care about the individuals but more about making money.
The commentary in the epilogue about her childhood and being okay with where she is in the present was refreshing and I, personally, am glad she was able to move past those feelings of the past. No child deserves the childhood she had.
Overall, I don’t think this was enlightening for the majority of people who have ever worked with a pharma company, but it definitely reinforced how snake-like they are.
January 19, 2025
This is a very well written book about a woman who was put in a position where she was forced between doing what is morally right and doing what she needs to for her family to be able to survive. Lisa does an incredible job lacing in her personal stories and challenges to explain just how difficult the situation of knowing her employer is breaking the law but needing to stay employed is like. The amount of resilience this woman has to be able to work for the employer while feeding her lawyers information is commendable and many people don’t know how emotionally exhausting that has to be. Not only is she struggling with her employer but she also has a son who has special needs and an ex-husband who seems to find a way to still be a thorn in her side, while also balancing her own medical issues. This book had me reading along in anticipation to find out what else could possibly go wrong next while also creating a huge respect for the author to juggle so many things all at once! Highly recommend for anyone who wants to read about how corrupt the pharmaceutical industry is and how Lisa’s resilience helped enact change.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read this book in advance for honest feedback on the book. All opinions are my own and do not reflect the views of the author/publisher.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read this book in advance for honest feedback on the book. All opinions are my own and do not reflect the views of the author/publisher.
December 21, 2024
I consider this among the list of nonfictions I think are essential for people to read. It’s especially easily digestible for nonfiction readers as well. If you’re a fan of the movies Erin Brockovich or Dark Water you will likely be interested in this
Pharmaceutical corruption exposed. The story telling and the subject matter are deeply compelling. A very pertinent subject that I think need to be talked about. This is an important book, this is knowledge the public should have. I urge everyone to read this.
Pharmaceutical corruption exposed. The story telling and the subject matter are deeply compelling. A very pertinent subject that I think need to be talked about. This is an important book, this is knowledge the public should have. I urge everyone to read this.
October 9, 2025
9/6 (catch-up)
Thank you to William Morrow for this free copy in exchange for an honest review!
I’ve always known Big Pharma to be corrupt, but learning just HOW corrupt is always harrowing and mind-boggling. As someone who works in healthcare because I have a love for people and a passion to care for them, it baffles me that so many people can make money off harming vulnerable populations.
When I read stories about people doing bad things, I always try to look for the good. Lisa Pratta is one of the good.
Thank you to William Morrow for this free copy in exchange for an honest review!
I’ve always known Big Pharma to be corrupt, but learning just HOW corrupt is always harrowing and mind-boggling. As someone who works in healthcare because I have a love for people and a passion to care for them, it baffles me that so many people can make money off harming vulnerable populations.
When I read stories about people doing bad things, I always try to look for the good. Lisa Pratta is one of the good.
June 6, 2025
Lisa Pratta was a drug rep who became a whistle blower exposing Big Pharma fraud and greed. In False Claims, she shares her professional, legal, and personal story. I’m sure the corruption is no surprise to anyone, but it’s fascinating (and horrifying, and important) to read about.
The writing was very informal and left me with some questions, but I think it’s right to be more forgiving with memoirs because her POV is worth reading. Overall, this was a very quick, engaging, and eye opening read that I recommend.
Thank you to William Morrow for the ARC!
The writing was very informal and left me with some questions, but I think it’s right to be more forgiving with memoirs because her POV is worth reading. Overall, this was a very quick, engaging, and eye opening read that I recommend.
Thank you to William Morrow for the ARC!
July 25, 2025
This was fascinatingly infuriating! I applaud the author for her commitment to do what was right even though it was not at all easy or convenient for her. As someone with major health issues, I’ve dealt with my share of prescription medication drama and seen wild price changes but thankfully not quite as extreme as what Questcor did. I flew through this in two days, once I started it I didn’t want to put it down. I split time between the audio and physical book and would recommend either format!
I highly recommend this book - it’s a very enlightening peek at what being a whistleblower entails, and the shady tactics of Big Pharma.
I highly recommend this book - it’s a very enlightening peek at what being a whistleblower entails, and the shady tactics of Big Pharma.
July 28, 2025
It angered me to know how much the pharmaceutical industry is in our business. As someone who has multiple sclerosis, reading about drug makers manipulating a drug to get more money for it instead of having it prescribed the way the manufacturer recommended is maddening. I have very little faith in the industry.
November 5, 2024
Review TK
May 11, 2025
Wow. Let me first say that I received a free advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I usually opt for audiobooks, but didn’t want to miss the chance on reading what looked like an interesting book. I read it in one day. As someone who has a hard time focusing on physically reading that means a lot. Lisa Pratta’s story is cinematic, and her storytelling is engaging. She jokes that she has the gift of gab, and I will say it pays off as she takes time to explain things in layperson terms, and keeps the narrative interesting at full steam ahead. Think of your best friend keeping you up to date on a high profile case. At every pause you want to say, “And what happened next” eagerly waiting for more details. However, the details are worse than you think. Everything you thought you knew about Big Pharma was just the tip of the iceberg.
February 22, 2025
I would give this book 10/5 stars and a must read.
Detailed review to come.
Detailed review to come.
October 24, 2024
ARC - Thanks NetGalley!!
tw - author discusses being abused as a child (not in depth, but it's there)
I absolutely loved this book! False Claims tells Lisa Pratta's story of working in the pharmaceutical industry and uncovering shocking levels of corruption. While trying to balance her job and responsibilities as a single mom, she’s faced with the difficult decision of staying quiet or doing the right thing by blowing the whistle on illegal sales practices. The book is not just about corporate greed, but also about Lisa's incredible courage.
I really connected with her struggle—wanting to do the right thing but being terrified of losing her job. That internal conflict is something I totally understand. Lisa’s bravery and moral strength are so inspiring, and I admire her so much. I’d love to be the kind of person she is!
I couldn’t put this book down and read it all in one day because I was dying to know how it ended. It’s a true page-turner, with great writing and an engaging story. I could definitely see myself reading this again—it’s that good. If you're into stories about standing up to corruption, you need to read False Claims.
tw - author discusses being abused as a child (not in depth, but it's there)
I absolutely loved this book! False Claims tells Lisa Pratta's story of working in the pharmaceutical industry and uncovering shocking levels of corruption. While trying to balance her job and responsibilities as a single mom, she’s faced with the difficult decision of staying quiet or doing the right thing by blowing the whistle on illegal sales practices. The book is not just about corporate greed, but also about Lisa's incredible courage.
I really connected with her struggle—wanting to do the right thing but being terrified of losing her job. That internal conflict is something I totally understand. Lisa’s bravery and moral strength are so inspiring, and I admire her so much. I’d love to be the kind of person she is!
I couldn’t put this book down and read it all in one day because I was dying to know how it ended. It’s a true page-turner, with great writing and an engaging story. I could definitely see myself reading this again—it’s that good. If you're into stories about standing up to corruption, you need to read False Claims.
November 8, 2024
Thank you, NetGalley and William Morrow for this ARC for review. This was a riveting book about the true story of Questcor Pharmaceuticals and how drug companies in the United States will try anything to make money, even market medications for off label use against the science which would boost sales and ultimately harm patients. This drug was FDA approved treatment for MS patients and would help them, IF used appropriately for 2-to-3-week treatments, but Questcor pushed the drug to be sold and used for an intensive 5-day treatment. This 5-day treatment increased sales and doctors were sold on the treatment plan, not knowing the research or knowing why this treatment would then fail to help their patient MS. The author shows how she is able to become a sales rep in a male-dominated field and ultimately, how she is able to still sell the drug per FDA safe guidelines, all the while, being a whistleblower for the DOJ and attempting to bring down Questcor in their illegal activities.
May 15, 2025
Given the current state of healthcare in America, False Claims by Lisa Pratta wasn’t exactly surprising—but it was still deeply unsettling. What caught me off guard wasn’t the high cost of medication, but the shocking lack of empathy and the toxic culture surrounding prescription practices within the pharmaceutical industry.
Drawing from her firsthand experience at Questcore, Pratta offers an unflinching look at a corporate environment where profits take precedence over patients. The book serves not only as an exposé of one company, but as a broader commentary on an industry obsessed with numbers and pleasing investors—often at the expense of those who can no longer afford life-saving medications.
What stood out to me most was Lisa’s writing style. She explains complex medical and corporate jargon with clarity and ease, making the book accessible without ever dumbing it down. Her storytelling is so engaging that it felt like she was right there beside me, narrating her experiences over coffee. There wasn’t a single dull moment—I flew through the pages.
Some of the conversations described between employees and leadership were jaw-dropping. I found myself pausing more than once, shocked by what was said, and even more stunned by how blindly those directives were followed—until the events of the book unfolded, and everything began to shift.
In a world where many are simply grateful for a steady paycheck, it’s heartening to see someone like Lisa choose to speak out. Her courage to stand up against a broken system is powerful and necessary, and this book is a testament to that bravery.
Thank you to Net Galley and Harper Collins Publishers for an uncorrected E-proof ARC edition. All opinions and thoughts expressed are my own.
Drawing from her firsthand experience at Questcore, Pratta offers an unflinching look at a corporate environment where profits take precedence over patients. The book serves not only as an exposé of one company, but as a broader commentary on an industry obsessed with numbers and pleasing investors—often at the expense of those who can no longer afford life-saving medications.
What stood out to me most was Lisa’s writing style. She explains complex medical and corporate jargon with clarity and ease, making the book accessible without ever dumbing it down. Her storytelling is so engaging that it felt like she was right there beside me, narrating her experiences over coffee. There wasn’t a single dull moment—I flew through the pages.
Some of the conversations described between employees and leadership were jaw-dropping. I found myself pausing more than once, shocked by what was said, and even more stunned by how blindly those directives were followed—until the events of the book unfolded, and everything began to shift.
In a world where many are simply grateful for a steady paycheck, it’s heartening to see someone like Lisa choose to speak out. Her courage to stand up against a broken system is powerful and necessary, and this book is a testament to that bravery.
Thank you to Net Galley and Harper Collins Publishers for an uncorrected E-proof ARC edition. All opinions and thoughts expressed are my own.
July 3, 2025
Lisa Pratta could not have done better. This book had me hooked from the first page. The thrilling, in a thriller type of way was insane. Lisa Pratta 100% could have been a thriller author, but she wasn't. She worked for Big Pharma Corporations. In fact, eventually her corporation she worked for eventually crossed the line.
The chapters are the perfect amount, just enough to keep you hooked. Once I started this book, it was impossible to put it down. When I wasn't reading this book, I was thinking about this book.
Please remember going into this book that this is a true story, and everything is based off of true events.
Thank you to NetGalley for the E-Arc.
The chapters are the perfect amount, just enough to keep you hooked. Once I started this book, it was impossible to put it down. When I wasn't reading this book, I was thinking about this book.
Please remember going into this book that this is a true story, and everything is based off of true events.
Thank you to NetGalley for the E-Arc.
August 5, 2025
I stopped listening to the audiobook at the 50% mark. It was repetitive and the author probably shouldn’t have included the various sad stuff going on in her own life. It didn’t add to the storyline and seemed like she was blaming everyone in her life for unrelated, random things.
May 10, 2025
False Claims: One Insider's Impossible Battle Against Big Pharma Corruption by Lisa Pratta is a very highly recommended account of a whistleblower taking on corruption and fraud in the pharmaceutical industry.
Lisa Pratta had a successful career in pharmaceutical sales when she joined Questcor Pharmaceuticals. Her job was to promote to doctors the drug Acthar, which, if prescribed correctly, could relieved flare-ups of multiple sclerosis (MS) with the goal to get them back to baseline, the condition they were in before the flare-up. However during sales meetings, Questcor was encouraging its salespeople to promote off-label use of the drug while also inflating the price of the drug to an outrageous and unjustifiable cost, $28,000 per vial. They were also encouraging giving doctor's office staff and nurses gift cards when visiting.
Pratta declined to promote off-label usage, kickbacks, or provide bribes, but stayed with the company while acting within the law because she needed the job to care for her special needs son. When her friend and colleague, Pete Keller, informed her that he was going to report Questor’s fraudulent practices to the federal government. Knowing Pratta's feelings, Keller encouraged her to join him. She did, while still working at Questcor and providing inside information for nearly a decade.
After recent experiences, many people have come to realize the corruption and unscrupulous behavior used by corrupt pharmaceutical companies and False Claims offers an insiders view into some of the practices of Big Pharma. Questor was bought by Mallinckrodt, which settled with the federal government, but the same sales practices are still used by other companies.
Pratta recounts both her professional and personal experiences in this straightforward, well-written narrative that has the tone of a memoir. Her childhood abuse and personal struggles along the way made her commitment to stay with the company and continue helping provide information for the federal case even more incredible.
Pratta provides practical advice to readers at the end as she encourages everyone to advocate for themselves, be proactive, do research, and refrain from taking any medical advice at face value. Perhaps most importantly, if a physician prescribes you a medication to ensure they are not bias ask about any relationship they have with the manufacturer or if they have attended conferences paid for by the company.
False Claims is an excellent choice for anyone following the corruption in Big Pharma. Thanks to William Morrow for providing me with an advance reader's copy via Edelweiss. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2025/0...
Lisa Pratta had a successful career in pharmaceutical sales when she joined Questcor Pharmaceuticals. Her job was to promote to doctors the drug Acthar, which, if prescribed correctly, could relieved flare-ups of multiple sclerosis (MS) with the goal to get them back to baseline, the condition they were in before the flare-up. However during sales meetings, Questcor was encouraging its salespeople to promote off-label use of the drug while also inflating the price of the drug to an outrageous and unjustifiable cost, $28,000 per vial. They were also encouraging giving doctor's office staff and nurses gift cards when visiting.
Pratta declined to promote off-label usage, kickbacks, or provide bribes, but stayed with the company while acting within the law because she needed the job to care for her special needs son. When her friend and colleague, Pete Keller, informed her that he was going to report Questor’s fraudulent practices to the federal government. Knowing Pratta's feelings, Keller encouraged her to join him. She did, while still working at Questcor and providing inside information for nearly a decade.
After recent experiences, many people have come to realize the corruption and unscrupulous behavior used by corrupt pharmaceutical companies and False Claims offers an insiders view into some of the practices of Big Pharma. Questor was bought by Mallinckrodt, which settled with the federal government, but the same sales practices are still used by other companies.
Pratta recounts both her professional and personal experiences in this straightforward, well-written narrative that has the tone of a memoir. Her childhood abuse and personal struggles along the way made her commitment to stay with the company and continue helping provide information for the federal case even more incredible.
Pratta provides practical advice to readers at the end as she encourages everyone to advocate for themselves, be proactive, do research, and refrain from taking any medical advice at face value. Perhaps most importantly, if a physician prescribes you a medication to ensure they are not bias ask about any relationship they have with the manufacturer or if they have attended conferences paid for by the company.
False Claims is an excellent choice for anyone following the corruption in Big Pharma. Thanks to William Morrow for providing me with an advance reader's copy via Edelweiss. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2025/0...
May 25, 2025
Book Review: False Claims: One Insider’s Impossible Battle Against Big Pharma Corruption by Lisa Pratta
Lisa Pratta’s False Claims is a gripping and meticulously researched exposé that delves into the moral quagmire of corporate corruption within the pharmaceutical industry. Combining personal narrative with investigative rigor, Pratta chronicles her harrowing journey as a whistleblower at Questcore, where she grappled with the ethical dilemma of exposing systemic fraud while safeguarding her family’s livelihood. The book is a masterclass in balancing vulnerability and resolve, as Pratta lays bare the emotional toll of her dual role—employee and informant—amidst personal struggles, including caring for a child with special needs and navigating her own health challenges.
Pratta’s prose is both accessible and incisive, demystifying complex legal and medical jargon without sacrificing depth. Her storytelling is immersive, evoking a sense of urgency that compels readers to confront the industry’s profit-driven exploitation of patients. Particularly striking are the candid dialogues she recounts, which reveal a culture of unchecked greed and moral bankruptcy. These moments, paired with Pratta’s unrelenting resilience, transform the book from a mere indictment into a rallying cry for accountability.
False Claims is more than an insider’s account; it is a vital critique of America’s healthcare system, where corporate interests often eclipse patient welfare. Pratta’s courage in challenging this paradigm is both inspiring and necessary, making her book essential reading for advocates of transparency and reform.
How I would describe this book:
- A riveting blend of personal sacrifice and corporate exposé—Lisa Pratta’s False Claims is the whistleblower story we need in an era of healthcare inequity.
- Pratta’s unflinching honesty and narrative prowess make False Claims impossible to put down—and impossible to ignore.
- A testament to moral courage, False Claims exposes the human cost of Big Pharma’s greed with clarity and conviction.
- For fans of Bad Blood and The Whistleblower, this is the next must-read account of corporate malfeasance.
Acknowledgments:
Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance review copy. Pratta’s work is a critical contribution to the discourse on ethics in healthcare, and I appreciate the opportunity to engage with it early.
Recommendation: Highly recommended for readers interested in corporate ethics, public health, and narratives of personal resilience. False Claims doesn’t just illuminate corruption—it challenges us to demand better.
Lisa Pratta’s False Claims is a gripping and meticulously researched exposé that delves into the moral quagmire of corporate corruption within the pharmaceutical industry. Combining personal narrative with investigative rigor, Pratta chronicles her harrowing journey as a whistleblower at Questcore, where she grappled with the ethical dilemma of exposing systemic fraud while safeguarding her family’s livelihood. The book is a masterclass in balancing vulnerability and resolve, as Pratta lays bare the emotional toll of her dual role—employee and informant—amidst personal struggles, including caring for a child with special needs and navigating her own health challenges.
Pratta’s prose is both accessible and incisive, demystifying complex legal and medical jargon without sacrificing depth. Her storytelling is immersive, evoking a sense of urgency that compels readers to confront the industry’s profit-driven exploitation of patients. Particularly striking are the candid dialogues she recounts, which reveal a culture of unchecked greed and moral bankruptcy. These moments, paired with Pratta’s unrelenting resilience, transform the book from a mere indictment into a rallying cry for accountability.
False Claims is more than an insider’s account; it is a vital critique of America’s healthcare system, where corporate interests often eclipse patient welfare. Pratta’s courage in challenging this paradigm is both inspiring and necessary, making her book essential reading for advocates of transparency and reform.
How I would describe this book:
- A riveting blend of personal sacrifice and corporate exposé—Lisa Pratta’s False Claims is the whistleblower story we need in an era of healthcare inequity.
- Pratta’s unflinching honesty and narrative prowess make False Claims impossible to put down—and impossible to ignore.
- A testament to moral courage, False Claims exposes the human cost of Big Pharma’s greed with clarity and conviction.
- For fans of Bad Blood and The Whistleblower, this is the next must-read account of corporate malfeasance.
Acknowledgments:
Thank you to the publisher for providing an advance review copy. Pratta’s work is a critical contribution to the discourse on ethics in healthcare, and I appreciate the opportunity to engage with it early.
Recommendation: Highly recommended for readers interested in corporate ethics, public health, and narratives of personal resilience. False Claims doesn’t just illuminate corruption—it challenges us to demand better.
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