Healthy Skepticism Library item: 19119

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

Grogan K
USA probes Novo Nordisk's marketing practices
Pharma Times 2011 Feb 16
http://www.pharmatimes.com/Article/11-02-16/USA_probes_Novo_Nordisk_s_marketing_practices.aspx

Full text:

Novo Nordisk has received a subpoena in the USA regarding “potential criminal offences” relating to marketing of three of its diabetes drugs, including Victoza.

The Danish drugmaker noted that the office of the US Attorney for the District of Massachusetts has served Novo with a subpoena calling for the production of documents relating to the company’s promotion practices. The treatments involved are the insulin analogues NovoLog (insulin aspart) and Levemir (insulin detemir), plus Victoza (liraglutide), Novo’s recently-launched once-daily human glucagon-like peptide-1 analogue.

Novo said it will cooperate with the US Attorney in the investigation, adding that it “cannot determine or predict the outcome of this matter or assess the consequences thereof”. The company added that it cannot predict how long the investigation will take or when it will be able to provide additional information, a point reiterated to PharmaTimes World News by a company spokeswoman.

Novo appeals Russia antitrust fine

However, the spokeswoman confirmed that Novo will be appealing a fine issued last month by Russia’s antitrust authority, the FAS, for alleged violation of competition law. The company disagrees with the verdict which has led to a fine of 85.9 million roubles, around $2.9 million.

The FAS began an investigation in July last year and claims that Novo refused to sign contracts with a range of drug suppliers “without any economic or technological factors justifying such behaviour”. Novo is accused of creating “discriminatory conditions”, but denies any wrongdoing.