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Healthy Skepticism Library item: 20244

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: Case

Phillips & Cohen
Glaxo’s settlement agreement and the government’s charges against Glaxo
Glaxo Whistleblower Case: Off-label marketing and kickbacks settlement 2012
http://www.glaxowhistleblowers.com/settlement-agreement/


Full text:

The settlement agreement signed by GlaxoSmithKline, the federal government and the whistleblowers describes not only the terms of the settlement of the whistleblower cases but also the whistleblower claims the government supported based on its investigation.

The claims the government stated in the settlement agreement describing Glaxo’s off-label marketing of Wellbutrin, Advair, Lamictal, Zofran, Imitrex and Valtrex and the financial inducements Glaxo gave to doctors to convince them to prescribe those drugs were based largely on the qui tam lawsuit brought by Phillips & Cohen’s whistleblower clients.

For more information about the government’s claims and the settlement amount allocated to each drug, see the Glaxo settlement agreement for the whistleblower cases.

Below are the claims the government made in the settlement agreement about Glaxo’s off-label marketing of Wellbutrin, Advair, Lamictal, Zofran, Imitrex and Valtrex and financial inducements offered to doctors to prescribe those drugs. The settlement agreement also contains allegations involving Paxil, which were based on a separate whistleblower lawsuit.

Wellbutrin: During the period January 1, 1999 through December 31, 2003, GSK knowingly: (a) promoted the sale and use of Wellbutrin for conditions (including weight loss, the treatment of obesity, sexual dysfunction and in combination with other antidepressants) and at dosages other than those for which its use was approved as safe and effective by the FDA, and some of which were not medically-accepted indications as defined by 42 U.S.C. §1396r-8(k)(6) for which the United States and state Medicaid programs provided coverage for Wellbutrin; (b) made and/or disseminated unsubstantiated and/or false and/or misleading representations or statements about the safety and efficacy ofWellbutrin; and © offered and paid illegal remuneration to healthcare professionals to induce them to promote and prescribe Wellbutrin, in violation of the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute, 42 U.S.C. ‘ 1320a-7b(b). As a result of the foregoing conduct, GSK knowingly caused false or fraudulent claims for Wellbutrin to be submitted to, or caused purchases by Medicaid and the other Federal Health Care Programs.
Advair: During the period January 1, 2001 through June 30, 2010, GSK knowingly: (a) promoted the sale and use of Advair for conditions and dosing regimens other than those for which its use was approved as safe and effective by the FDA (including first line use for mild or all asthma, and for asthma previously treated by short-acting inhalers alone), and some of which were not medically-accepted indications as defined by 42 U.S.C. § 1396r-8(k)(6) for which the United States and state Medicaid programs provided coverage for Advair (b) made and/or disseminated unsubstantiated and/or false and/or misleading representations or statements about the safety and efficacy of Advair (including that Advair was superior to the single component, inhaled corticosteroid alone, for patients previously treated by short-acting inhalers alone); and © offered and paid illegal remuneration to health care professionals to induce them to promote and prescribe Advair, in violation of the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute, 42 U.S.C. § 1320-7b(b). As a result of the foregoing conduct, GSK knowingly caused false or fraudulent claims for Advair to be submitted to, or caused purchases by Medicaid, Medicare and the other Federal Health Care Programs.
Lamictal: During the period January 1, 1999 through December 31, 2003, GSK knowingly (a) promoted the sale and use of Lamictal for a variety of conditions other than those for which its use was approved as safe and effective by the FDA (including bi-polar depression, neuropathic pain, and various other mental diseases), and some of which were not medically-accepted indications as defined by 42 U.S.C. § 1396r-8(k)(6) for which the United States and state Medicaid programs provided coverage for Lamictal; (b) made and/or disseminated unsubstantiated and/or false and/or misleading representations or statements about the safety and efficacy of Lamictal concerning the uses described in section (a) of this sub–paragraph; and © offered and paid illegal remuneration to health care professionals to induce them to promote and prescribe Lamictal, in violation of the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute, 42 U.S.C. §1320-7b(b). As a result of the foregoing conduct, GSK knowingly caused false or fraudulent claims for Lamictal to be submitted to, or caused purchases by Medicaid and the other Federal Health Care Programs.
Zofran: During the period January 1, 2002 through December 31, 2004, GSK knowingly (a) promoted the sale and use of Zofran for a variety of conditions other than those for which its use was approved as safe and effective by the FDA (including hyperemesis or pregnancy-related nausea), and some of which were not medically-accepted indications as defined by 42 U.S.C. § 1396r-8(k)(6) for which the United States and state Medicaid programs provided coverage for Zofran; (b) made and/or disseminated unsubstantiated and/or false representations or statements about the safety and efficacy of Zofran concerning the uses described in section (a) of this sub-paragraph; and © offered and paid illegal remuneration to health care professionals to induce them to promote and prescribe Zofran, in violation of the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute, 42 U.S.C. § 1320-7b(b). As a result of the foregoing conduct, GSK knowingly caused false or fraudulent claims for Zofran to be submitted to, or caused purchases by Medicaid and the other Federal Health Care Programs.
Imitrex, Lotronex, Flovent and Valtrex: From January 1999 through December 2004, GSK paid illegal remuneration for speaker programs, mentorships, preceptorships, journal clubs, advisory boards (including Local and Regional Advisory Boards and Special Issues Boards), Reprint Mastery Trainings, and provided gifts (including entertainment, cash, travel and meals) to health care professionals to induce them to promote and prescribe the drugs Imitrex, Lotronex, Flovent and Valtrex, in violation of the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute, 42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7b(b). As a result of the foregoing conduct, GSK caused false claims to be submitted to Medicaid and certain other Federal Healthcare Programs.

 

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