BOSTON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - A U.S. unit of Canadian drugmaker Biovail Corp BVF.TO has pleaded guilty to conspiracy and kickback charges, the U.S. Justice Department said.

Prosecutors said on Monday that Biovail has been sentenced to pay $22.2 million in fines. It also agreed to pay $2.4 million to settle charges that it improperly paid doctors and other prescribers up to $1,000 to recommend its hypertension drug Cardizem.

(Reporting by Ross Kerber; Editing by Richard Chang)