Manufacturers of Swine Flu vaccine who have immunity - Pfizer unit to pay $1.3B in multi-state case
Manufacturers of Swine Flu vaccine who have immunity
Pfizer unit to pay $1.3B in multi-state case
October 19, 2009
By Julie M. Donnelly
Pfizer Inc. subsidiary Pharmacia & Upjohn Company Inc. was ordered by a federal court to pay $1.3 billion after pleading guilty to one felony count of misbranding a drug with the intent to mislead or defraud. The court said the company illegally promoted the sales of Bextra, an anti-inflammatory drug which was later taken off the market due to health risks.
The company agreed to plead guilty to the charge as part of a historic, multi-state settlement to resolve nine separate whistleblower lawsuits filed against the company in federal courts in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Kentucky. The $1.3 billion is in addition to a number of suits alleging that Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) and its subsidiaries employed illegal off-label marketing to promote the sale of four drugs. While it’s not illegal for doctors to prescribe drugs for yet-to-be approved applications, it is illegal for drug companies to promote drugs for those off-label indications.
As part of the plea agreement, Pharmacia accepted responsibility for its illegal conduct and the United States agreed that Pharmacia had fully cooperated with the investigation.
http://tinyurl.com/yg9bpv7
Pfizer unit to pay $1.3B in multi-state case
October 19, 2009
By Julie M. Donnelly
Pfizer Inc. subsidiary Pharmacia & Upjohn Company Inc. was ordered by a federal court to pay $1.3 billion after pleading guilty to one felony count of misbranding a drug with the intent to mislead or defraud. The court said the company illegally promoted the sales of Bextra, an anti-inflammatory drug which was later taken off the market due to health risks.
The company agreed to plead guilty to the charge as part of a historic, multi-state settlement to resolve nine separate whistleblower lawsuits filed against the company in federal courts in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Kentucky. The $1.3 billion is in addition to a number of suits alleging that Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) and its subsidiaries employed illegal off-label marketing to promote the sale of four drugs. While it’s not illegal for doctors to prescribe drugs for yet-to-be approved applications, it is illegal for drug companies to promote drugs for those off-label indications.
As part of the plea agreement, Pharmacia accepted responsibility for its illegal conduct and the United States agreed that Pharmacia had fully cooperated with the investigation.
http://tinyurl.com/yg9bpv7
bin66 - 3. Nov, 00:20
