UPDATE 1-Abbott faces new US sales probe, Depakote in focus

* U.S. probing whether sales violated anti-kickback law

* Probe also examines possible false claims

* Involves Medicare, Medicaid payments to third parties

By Ransdell Pierson

NEW YORK, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Federal officials are investigating how Abbott Laboratories Inc (ABT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) has marketed the epilepsy drug Depakote, the company said on Friday, the latest U.S. probe of its sales practices.

The suburban Chicago drugmaker said in a regulatory filing that the federal prosecutor for the Western District of Virginia is conducting the probe for the U.S. Justice Department.

Investigators are examining whether Abbott's marketing of Depakote violated civil or criminal laws, including the Federal False Claims Act and an anti-kickback law related to reimbursement by the federal Medicare and Medicaid insurance programs to third parties, the filing said.

A spokeswoman for the Justice Department declined to comment on the matter.

"We are cooperating with the investigation," said a spokeswoman for Abbott, who declined to comment further.