US drug company to pay $1.6bn over Depakote mis-selling

[Eugene]

Source: BBC

8 May 2012 Last updated at 04:43 GMT

US drug company to pay 1.6bn over Depakote mis-selling

A US drug company has agreed to pay out $1.6bn (£1bn) after improperly marketing a mood-stabilising drug in a settlement thought to be the largest of its kind involving a single drug.

Abbott Laboratories encouraged its sales teams to market Depakote for uses that were not approved by regulators, the US justice department said.

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According to a US justice department statement, Abbott maintained a specialised sales force to market the drug in nursing homes.

It said the drug could be used for the control of agitation in elderly dementia patients, despite the absence of any credible scientific evidence that Depakote was safe and effective for that use.

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Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-17986753

[global1]

1. A Dumb Question - But Into What Pot Does The $1.6 bn Go?.......

Who or what agency gets the money? Does it go to the DOJ or the FDA or just the general treasury. I always hear about companies getting fined - but I never hear where the money from the fine winds up.

Does anybody out there in DU land know?

[DannyHaszard]

2. I took Depakote

Reg-Abbott labs off-label promotion of Depakote.
I took Depakote for 6 years was ineffective for my condition PTSD,the doctor kept telling me to take it.
The saga of the schizophrenia drugs is one of incredible profit.Eli Lilly made $65 BILLION on Zyprexa franchise. Described as *the most successful drug in the history of neuroscience*.There is a whole underclass block of our society,including children in foster care that are the market for these drugs,but have little voice of protest if harmed by them.
--Daniel Haszard http://www.zyprexa-victims.com