Pfizer sets aside $403m for possible settlement

revprez · Post by **revprez** » 2004-01-23 06:15pm

Boston Globe, 1/23/04 wrote:
Pfizer sets aside $403m for possible settlement
4th-quarter charge is aimed at closure in drug fraud cases
By Liz Kowalczyk, Globe Staff, 1/23/2004

Pfizer Inc. indicated it is closer to settling allegations of drug fraud charges, saying it has set aside $403 million for federal and state prosecutors over its promotion of what has become the country's top-selling epilepsy drug, Neurontin.

Full story here.

Rev Prez

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2004-01-23 06:17pm

Not surprising. I'm surprised how rarely the pharmaceuticals are actually caught for misleading promotions, to be honest. When you think about it, it's rather disturbing that all of the research on drug safety and efficacy is funded by the same companies that make the drugs in question.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2004-01-23 06:17pm

What are the details of the charges?

revprez · Post by **revprez** » 2004-01-23 06:20pm

Joe wrote:What are the details of the charges?

Boston Globe, 1/23/04 wrote:Based largely on voice-mail messages and documents collected by Franklin, the US attorney's office said in its court filing that the company gave doctors kickbacks in the form of lavish trips and tickets disguised as educational or consulting payments. In one instance, prosecutors said, the company paid for doctors to stay five days in Atlanta during the 1996 Summer Olympics. The company covered the doctors' meals, use of a resort, and motorcoach travel to the games. Agendas for the meeting listed 10.5 hours of business meetings, including one session devoted to off-label uses for Neurontin, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors also said Warner-Lambert and its subsidiaries misled doctors into believing that programs discussing uses for Neurontin were independent educational programs when they actually were marketing efforts led by the company. Pfizer executives have repeatedly refused to comment on the charges, only saying the allegations concern company activities during the mid-1990s, years before Pfizer purchased Warner-Lambert.

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Post by **Darth Wong** » 2004-01-23 06:23pm

According to my MD cousin, based on the marketing material and offers he routinely receives, those charges could apply to any of a number of pharmaceuticals for any of a number of drugs. It may be that somebody just wants to set some kind of example, because the behaviour they're describing is fairly commonplace.

revprez · Post by **revprez** » 2004-01-23 06:27pm

It should be noted that Pfizer is not admitting to any wrongdoing. Most cases are settled out of court.

Rev Prez

EmperorMing · Post by **EmperorMing** » 2004-01-24 12:51pm

Darth Wong wrote:According to my MD cousin, based on the marketing material and offers he routinely receives, those charges could apply to any of a number of pharmaceuticals for any of a number of drugs. It may be that somebody just wants to set some kind of example, because the behaviour they're describing is fairly commonplace.

When there is a buck involved, screw the public.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2004-01-24 12:54pm

Sounds like something the big tobacco giants like BAT or Marlboro would do.

kojikun · Post by **kojikun** » 2004-01-24 02:25pm

Thats what happens when you let drug companies market their shit however they want, rather than enforcing regulations.