Glaxo to Pay $750 Million over Tainted and Ineffective Drugs (Settles Criminal charges)

[The Straight Story]

Glaxo to Pay $750 Million over Tainted and Ineffective Drugs

GlaxoSmithKline agreed this week to pay the largest fine ever ($150 million) by a drug maker to settle criminal charges of having sold tainted products. The fine was part of a $750 million settlement reached with the U.S. Department of Justice to resolve criminal and civil complaints that Glaxo knowingly marketed contaminated baby ointment and an ineffective antidepressant produced at its plant in Puerto Rico between 2001 and 2005.

The legal case began after a company whistleblower, Cheryl Eckard, was fired for trying to warn Glaxo officials about problems with contamination at the Puerto Rican facility. Among the drugs affected were Paxil, an antidepressant; Bactroban, an ointment; Avandia, a troubled diabetes drug; Coreg, a heart drug; and Tagamet, an acid reflux drug.

Eckard will receive $96 million from the settlement, one of the highest awards ever given to a whistleblower. Civil penalties comprise another $600 million of the agreement.

http://www.allgov.com/Controversies/ViewNews/Glaxo_to_Pay_750_Million_Dollars_over_Tainted_and_Ineffective_Drugs_101028

Got money? You can avoid jail.

[KansDem]

1. But...but...corpoations are "people" now!

...to settle criminal charges of having sold tainted products.

So "people" can settle criminal charges by just paying a fine? Wow! So if I have the money, I can commit a criminal act and get off by paying a fine?!! I don't have to go to jail??!!!

Is this a great country, or what? :D

[PA Democrat]

2. And yet we are told that re importation of drugs from Canada is not allowed

due to SAFETY considerations. 80% of the drugs sold in the US contain ingredients manufactured outside of the US. The only thing being "protected" is the profits of big pharma.