Healthy Skepticism Library item: 16693
Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.
 
Publication type: news
Pelofsky J, Bishopric C
US court imposes penalties on Pfizer unit in Bextra case
Reuters 2009 Oct 16
http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssHealthcareNews/idUSN1636788820091016
Full text:
A U.S. court on Friday imposed $1.3 billion in criminal penalties on Pfizer Inc.(PFE.N) unit Pharmacia & Upjohn Co for fraudulently promoting the drug Bextra, which was withdrawn from the market in 2005 because of safety concerns.
Pfizer agreed to a record $2.3 billion settlement with the Justice Department last month, of which $1.3 billion was related to Bextra and $1 billion was to settle civil allegations on how Pfizer marketed it and other drugs.
U.S. District Judge Douglas Woodlock in Boston imposed the criminal penalty at a court proceeding on Friday, the Justice Department said.
The settlement required court approval.
The world’s biggest drugmaker was slapped with the huge fines by the U.S. government after being deemed a repeat offender in pitching drugs to patients and doctors for unapproved uses.
Pfizer in January said it took a $2.3 billion charge late last year to resolve allegations involving Bextra and other drugs, but did not provide details at the time. Pfizer acquired Bextra in its 2003 purchase of Pharmacia Corp.