Pfizer to pay record $2.3B penalty over promotions

[babylonsister]

Pfizer to pay record $2.3B penalty over promotions

By DEVLIN BARRETT (AP) – 35 minutes ago


WASHINGTON — Pfizer Inc., the world's largest drug maker, will pay a record $2.3 billion civil and criminal penalty over unlawful prescription drug promotions, the Justice Department announced Wednesday.

The department said the $2.3 billion settlement included a $1.2 billion criminal fine, the largest criminal fine in U.S. history. The agreement also included a criminal forfeiture of $105 million.

"Combating health care fraud is one of this administration's top priorities," Associate Attorney General Thomas Perelli said in announcing the settlement. He said it illustrates ways the department "can help the American public at a time when budgets are tight and health care costs are rising."

The overall settlement is the largest ever paid by a drug company for alleged violations of federal drug rules.

The government said the company promoted four prescription drugs, including the pain killer Bextra, as treatments for medical conditions different than those the drugs had been approved for by federal regulators.

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[WillYourVoteBCounted]

1. the only thing that shocks me is that they are being penalized

Pfizers actions are typical of corporations.

They'll do it if we let them and or if it is profitable for them to do so.