The pharmaceutical giant was punished yesterday with 2,300 million (1,613 million) for illicit practices in the marketing of several of its drugs, including treatments for pain and Lyrica Bextra. This is the harshest rebuke those applied in the United States against the fraudulent promotion of drugs.
Pfizer, which admitted four years ago followed improper tactics in the sale of Neurontin, said in January that Washington was negotiating with the settlement of other litigation. And without going into details, put in reserve an amount equal to the announced. After nine months agreeing the terms, prevents the development of a criminal trial to blow checkbook.
The drug was offering Bextra, Lyrica, Geodon (schizophrenia) and Zyvox (infections) for medical conditions other than those indications for which was approved by the authority, as outlined by the Department of Human Services. Eli Lilly was passed this year by a similar case relating to the promotion of Zyprexa, and paid 1,420 million.
To settle the dispute, its subsidiary, Pharmacia & Upjohn pleads guilty to a criminal charge for improper marketing of Betrax (withdrawn in 2005). Therefore, pay 1,300 million. The rest will be paid to compensate for civil lawsuits. Thus, given shelved an investigation into alleged payments to doctors and other malpractices.
From the Administration who heads Barack Obama is said to combat fraud in the health sector is a priority for the Government.
The drug maker Pfizer, that since the beginning of the year is in the process of merging with its rival, Wyeth, reiterated yesterday that this penalty will have no impact on its income statement, because the amount of the fine was discounted in the balance of fiscal 2008.
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