Contact us for free information or to start a free case review.
Just weeks after Pfizer and its Warner-Lambert Co. unit were penalized $430 million in federal and state courts for selling Neurontin for purposes that have not yet been FDA approved, the company is again under fire for fraudulent marketing practices. The company pleaded guilty in May to two felony counts of violating the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.
This week, the Alaska State Employees Association health benefits trust filed a lawsuit mirroring that of federal and state prosecutors, claiming the pharmaceutical company reaped billions of dollars in profits by marketing its drug for unapproved, or "off-label," uses. According to the suit, Neurontin, which received FDA approval in 1993 for the partial treatment of epilepsy, was "aggressively marketed by Warner-Lambert" for bipolar mental disorders, Lou Gehrig''s disease, attention deficit disorder, migraines and various pain disorders.
The suit also claims that the company''s revenue for Neurontin jumped from $97.5 million in 1995 to $2.5 billion in 2003, and that by 2003, 90 percent of the drug''s prescriptions were for "off-label" uses. The company is accused of falsifying clinical trials and illegally paying physicians to prescribe Neurontin and conceal the off-label use on claim forms.
Copyright © 2001 - 2012 Online Lawyer Source
ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT—Thank you for your visit. The content published on this website was not written by medical professionals and should not, at any point, be mistaken for medical advice. Furthermore, the information on this site is intended for educational purposes only and should never interfere with a patient/site visitor and his or her healthcare provider. In addition, viewing the content on this website, requesting additional information, or transmitting information through a contact form should never be considered the formation of an attorney-client relationship. The material published on this site is general and may not apply to your specific circumstances. Every case comes with its own set of unique circumstances; past success discussed on this site does not guarantee future performance. Information found on this website should not be used as incentive to act without seeking counsel from a professional. For more information, please read our disclaimer.