Drug Company To Pay $85 Million Fine In Improper Marketing Case

[HuckleB]

Source: SF Appeal

A Fremont-based subsidiary of the Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical company pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor in federal court in San Francisco Wednesday and agreed to pay an $85 million fine for marketing a heart drug for an off-label use.

Scios Inc. pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer to one count of misbranding the drug Natrecor.

The drug is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use with patients with acute congestive heart failure who have shortness of breath. It is administered intravenously.

The criminal charge filed by the U.S. Justice Department in July alleged that Scios was improperly marketing the drug for use on a regular basis by heart patients who were not acutely ill.


Read more: http://sfappeal.com/news/2011/10/drug-company-to-pay-85-million-fine-in-improper-marketing-case.php

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I'm guessing that this might not happen under a Republican president. Anyway, it's time to stop false claims by drug companies of all types.

[gateley]

1. Does anybody know if this is true -- I read once (in a novel,

granted) that pharma companies have to sit on their own pile of $$$ for lawsuits as they can't get insurance through the industry.

Doesn't matter to this report, but I've always been curious if that was accurate or not.

Thanks any DUers who might know. :hi:

[Cool Logic]

2. $85 million...it would appear that they have redefined the term "misdemeanor ."

[UpInArms]

3. mighty costly misdemeanor

but I guess that beats a "felony" charge - maybe that would have included the death penalty (for the pharma co)

:shrug:

[HuckleB]

4. Well, context, I suppose, is everything.

[Tejas]

5. Who gets the $85m ?

I've always wondered where the fines go (in this case, $85,000,000) that .gov collects.