Pfizer to Pay $142.1 Million Over Neurontin Marketing - 300 more suits to go

[Guest guest]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-28/pfizer-ordered-to-pay-142-1-million-in-damages-over-neurontin-marketing.html

Pfizer to Pay $142.1 Million Over Neurontin Marketing

By Jef

Feeley and Janelle Lawrence -

Jan 28, 2011 4:13 PM CT

Pfizer

Inc., the world’s largest drugmaker, was ordered to pay a

total of $142.1 million in damages for violating U.S. racketeering

laws in the marketing of its epilepsy drug Neurontin.

U.S. District Judge Patti Saris in Boston yesterday upheld a

jury’s finding that Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Inc. and Kaiser

Foundation Hospitals deserved the award over the companies’ claims

that Pfizer illegally promoted Neurontin for unapproved uses.

Saris tripled the jury’s award of $47.3 million under a provision

of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act of 1970.

“The damages awarded to the plaintiffs by the jury under RICO are

trebled,” the judge said in her one-page order. Saris also denied

Kaiser’s request for an estimated $76 million in interest on the

award.

Kaiser officials alleged they were duped into believing that

migraines and bipolar disorder could be treated effectively with

Neurontin, approved in 1993 by the U.S. Food and Drug

Administration for epilepsy.

Loder, a Pfizer spokesman, said the company was pleased

with Saris’ decision to deny Kaiser’s bid for pre- judgment

interest on the award. “As we maintained all along, Pfizer has

strong defenses in this case and intends to appeal,” he said.

Oakland, California-based Kaiser, the first insurer to bring a

Neurontin case against Pfizer to trial, claimed it was forced to

pay $90 million more than it should have for the drug.

300 Suits

New York-based Pfizer currently faces more than 300 suits

accusing it of illegally promoting Neurontin or hiding its health

risks. Lawyers for ex-Neurontin users contend the drugmaker knew

the medicine posed a suicide risk and failed to disclose it to

patients and doctors.

The company also has settled at least two suits alleging the drug

played a role in users’ suicides, paying almost $400,000 in one of

the accords, people familiar with the deals said last year.

Warner-Lambert Co. developed and marketed Neurontin for several

years before Pfizer acquired the drugmaker in 2000. Four years

later, Warner-Lambert pleaded guilty and agreed to pay $430

million to resolve off-label marketing allegations by the U.S.

Justice Department.

Saris, who is overseeing Neurontin cases from across the U.S.

consolidated in federal court in Boston, recently

dismissed more than 40 suits and a state-court judge in Missouri

refused in August to all former Neurontin users to combine claims

into a class-action case.

The case is In re Neurontin Marketing, Sales Practices and

Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1629, U.S. District Court,

District of Massachusetts

(Boston).

To contact the reporters on this story: Jef Feeley in Wilmington,

Delaware at jfeeley@...;

Janelle Lawrence in Boston at jmlawrence@....

To contact the editor responsible for this story: E.

Rovella at drovellabloomberg (DOT) net

[Guest guest]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-28/pfizer-ordered-to-pay-142-1-million-in-damages-over-neurontin-marketing.html

Pfizer to Pay $142.1 Million Over Neurontin Marketing

By Jef

Feeley and Janelle Lawrence -

Jan 28, 2011 4:13 PM CT

Pfizer

Inc., the world’s largest drugmaker, was ordered to pay a

total of $142.1 million in damages for violating U.S. racketeering

laws in the marketing of its epilepsy drug Neurontin.

U.S. District Judge Patti Saris in Boston yesterday upheld a

jury’s finding that Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Inc. and Kaiser

Foundation Hospitals deserved the award over the companies’ claims

that Pfizer illegally promoted Neurontin for unapproved uses.

Saris tripled the jury’s award of $47.3 million under a provision

of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act of 1970.

“The damages awarded to the plaintiffs by the jury under RICO are

trebled,” the judge said in her one-page order. Saris also denied

Kaiser’s request for an estimated $76 million in interest on the

award.

Kaiser officials alleged they were duped into believing that

migraines and bipolar disorder could be treated effectively with

Neurontin, approved in 1993 by the U.S. Food and Drug

Administration for epilepsy.

Loder, a Pfizer spokesman, said the company was pleased

with Saris’ decision to deny Kaiser’s bid for pre- judgment

interest on the award. “As we maintained all along, Pfizer has

strong defenses in this case and intends to appeal,” he said.

Oakland, California-based Kaiser, the first insurer to bring a

Neurontin case against Pfizer to trial, claimed it was forced to

pay $90 million more than it should have for the drug.

300 Suits

New York-based Pfizer currently faces more than 300 suits

accusing it of illegally promoting Neurontin or hiding its health

risks. Lawyers for ex-Neurontin users contend the drugmaker knew

the medicine posed a suicide risk and failed to disclose it to

patients and doctors.

The company also has settled at least two suits alleging the drug

played a role in users’ suicides, paying almost $400,000 in one of

the accords, people familiar with the deals said last year.

Warner-Lambert Co. developed and marketed Neurontin for several

years before Pfizer acquired the drugmaker in 2000. Four years

later, Warner-Lambert pleaded guilty and agreed to pay $430

million to resolve off-label marketing allegations by the U.S.

Justice Department.

Saris, who is overseeing Neurontin cases from across the U.S.

consolidated in federal court in Boston, recently

dismissed more than 40 suits and a state-court judge in Missouri

refused in August to all former Neurontin users to combine claims

into a class-action case.

The case is In re Neurontin Marketing, Sales Practices and

Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1629, U.S. District Court,

District of Massachusetts

(Boston).

To contact the reporters on this story: Jef Feeley in Wilmington,

Delaware at jfeeley@...;

Janelle Lawrence in Boston at jmlawrence@....

To contact the editor responsible for this story: E.

Rovella at drovellabloomberg (DOT) net

[Guest guest]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-28/pfizer-ordered-to-pay-142-1-million-in-damages-over-neurontin-marketing.html

Pfizer to Pay $142.1 Million Over Neurontin Marketing

By Jef

Feeley and Janelle Lawrence -

Jan 28, 2011 4:13 PM CT

Pfizer

Inc., the world’s largest drugmaker, was ordered to pay a

total of $142.1 million in damages for violating U.S. racketeering

laws in the marketing of its epilepsy drug Neurontin.

U.S. District Judge Patti Saris in Boston yesterday upheld a

jury’s finding that Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Inc. and Kaiser

Foundation Hospitals deserved the award over the companies’ claims

that Pfizer illegally promoted Neurontin for unapproved uses.

Saris tripled the jury’s award of $47.3 million under a provision

of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act of 1970.

“The damages awarded to the plaintiffs by the jury under RICO are

trebled,” the judge said in her one-page order. Saris also denied

Kaiser’s request for an estimated $76 million in interest on the

award.

Kaiser officials alleged they were duped into believing that

migraines and bipolar disorder could be treated effectively with

Neurontin, approved in 1993 by the U.S. Food and Drug

Administration for epilepsy.

Loder, a Pfizer spokesman, said the company was pleased

with Saris’ decision to deny Kaiser’s bid for pre- judgment

interest on the award. “As we maintained all along, Pfizer has

strong defenses in this case and intends to appeal,” he said.

Oakland, California-based Kaiser, the first insurer to bring a

Neurontin case against Pfizer to trial, claimed it was forced to

pay $90 million more than it should have for the drug.

300 Suits

New York-based Pfizer currently faces more than 300 suits

accusing it of illegally promoting Neurontin or hiding its health

risks. Lawyers for ex-Neurontin users contend the drugmaker knew

the medicine posed a suicide risk and failed to disclose it to

patients and doctors.

The company also has settled at least two suits alleging the drug

played a role in users’ suicides, paying almost $400,000 in one of

the accords, people familiar with the deals said last year.

Warner-Lambert Co. developed and marketed Neurontin for several

years before Pfizer acquired the drugmaker in 2000. Four years

later, Warner-Lambert pleaded guilty and agreed to pay $430

million to resolve off-label marketing allegations by the U.S.

Justice Department.

Saris, who is overseeing Neurontin cases from across the U.S.

consolidated in federal court in Boston, recently

dismissed more than 40 suits and a state-court judge in Missouri

refused in August to all former Neurontin users to combine claims

into a class-action case.

The case is In re Neurontin Marketing, Sales Practices and

Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1629, U.S. District Court,

District of Massachusetts

(Boston).

To contact the reporters on this story: Jef Feeley in Wilmington,

Delaware at jfeeley@...;

Janelle Lawrence in Boston at jmlawrence@....

To contact the editor responsible for this story: E.

Rovella at drovellabloomberg (DOT) net

[Guest guest]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-28/pfizer-ordered-to-pay-142-1-million-in-damages-over-neurontin-marketing.html

Pfizer to Pay $142.1 Million Over Neurontin Marketing

By Jef

Feeley and Janelle Lawrence -

Jan 28, 2011 4:13 PM CT

Pfizer

Inc., the world’s largest drugmaker, was ordered to pay a

total of $142.1 million in damages for violating U.S. racketeering

laws in the marketing of its epilepsy drug Neurontin.

U.S. District Judge Patti Saris in Boston yesterday upheld a

jury’s finding that Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Inc. and Kaiser

Foundation Hospitals deserved the award over the companies’ claims

that Pfizer illegally promoted Neurontin for unapproved uses.

Saris tripled the jury’s award of $47.3 million under a provision

of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act of 1970.

“The damages awarded to the plaintiffs by the jury under RICO are

trebled,” the judge said in her one-page order. Saris also denied

Kaiser’s request for an estimated $76 million in interest on the

award.

Kaiser officials alleged they were duped into believing that

migraines and bipolar disorder could be treated effectively with

Neurontin, approved in 1993 by the U.S. Food and Drug

Administration for epilepsy.

Loder, a Pfizer spokesman, said the company was pleased

with Saris’ decision to deny Kaiser’s bid for pre- judgment

interest on the award. “As we maintained all along, Pfizer has

strong defenses in this case and intends to appeal,” he said.

Oakland, California-based Kaiser, the first insurer to bring a

Neurontin case against Pfizer to trial, claimed it was forced to

pay $90 million more than it should have for the drug.

300 Suits

New York-based Pfizer currently faces more than 300 suits

accusing it of illegally promoting Neurontin or hiding its health

risks. Lawyers for ex-Neurontin users contend the drugmaker knew

the medicine posed a suicide risk and failed to disclose it to

patients and doctors.

The company also has settled at least two suits alleging the drug

played a role in users’ suicides, paying almost $400,000 in one of

the accords, people familiar with the deals said last year.

Warner-Lambert Co. developed and marketed Neurontin for several

years before Pfizer acquired the drugmaker in 2000. Four years

later, Warner-Lambert pleaded guilty and agreed to pay $430

million to resolve off-label marketing allegations by the U.S.

Justice Department.

Saris, who is overseeing Neurontin cases from across the U.S.

consolidated in federal court in Boston, recently

dismissed more than 40 suits and a state-court judge in Missouri

refused in August to all former Neurontin users to combine claims

into a class-action case.

The case is In re Neurontin Marketing, Sales Practices and

Products Liability Litigation, MDL 1629, U.S. District Court,

District of Massachusetts

(Boston).

To contact the reporters on this story: Jef Feeley in Wilmington,

Delaware at jfeeley@...;

Janelle Lawrence in Boston at jmlawrence@....

To contact the editor responsible for this story: E.

Rovella at drovellabloomberg (DOT) net

[Guest guest]

Re the promation of neurontin for a long list of off-label uses, there is a

reader-friendly paperback called " Our Daily Meds: How Pharmaceutical Companies

Transformed Themselves into Slick Marketing Machines and Hooked.... " by Melody

sen. There is a chapter in there called " Neurontin For Everything. " That

chapter is worth the price of the book (on Amazon it was $11.56) The author

details the deliberate deception used by the manufacturers of neurontin to

promate the drug for, literally, almost everything, and how they carried it out.

Cate

>

>

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-28/pfizer-ordered-to-pay-142-1-million-in-\

damages-over-neurontin-marketing.html

>

>

> Pfizer to Pay $142.1 Million Over Neurontin Marketing

>

> By Jef Feeley and Janelle Lawrence - Jan 28, 2011 4:13 PM CT

>

> Pfizer Inc <http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/quote?ticker=PFE%3AUS>., the

> world's largest drugmaker, was ordered to pay a total of $142.1 million

> in damages for violating U.S. racketeering laws in the marketing of its

> epilepsy drug Neurontin.

>

> U.S. District Judge Patti Saris in Boston yesterday upheld a jury's

> finding that Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Inc. and Kaiser Foundation

> Hospitals deserved the award over the companies' claims that Pfizer

> illegally promoted Neurontin for unapproved uses. Saris tripled the

> jury's award of $47.3 million under a provision of the Racketeer

> Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act of 1970.

>

> " The damages awarded to the plaintiffs by the jury under RICO are

> trebled, " the judge said in her one-page order. Saris also denied

> Kaiser's request for an estimated $76 million in interest on the award.

>

> Kaiser officials alleged they were duped into believing that migraines

> and bipolar disorder could be treated effectively with Neurontin,

> approved in 1993 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for epilepsy.

>

> Loder, a Pfizer spokesman, said the company was pleased with

> Saris' decision to deny Kaiser's bid for pre- judgment interest on the

> award. " As we maintained all along, Pfizer has strong defenses in this

> case and intends to appeal, " he said.

>

> Oakland, California-based Kaiser, the first insurer to bring a Neurontin

> case against Pfizer to trial, claimed it was forced to pay $90 million

> more than it should have for the drug.

>

> 300 Suits

>

> New York-based Pfizer currently faces more than 300 suits accusing it of

> illegally promoting Neurontin or hiding its health risks. Lawyers for

> ex-Neurontin users contend the drugmaker knew the medicine posed a

> suicide risk and failed to disclose it to patients and doctors.

>

> The company also has settled at least two suits alleging the drug played

> a role in users' suicides, paying almost $400,000 in one of the accords,

> people familiar with the deals said last year.

>

> Warner-Lambert Co. developed and marketed Neurontin for several years

> before Pfizer acquired the drugmaker in 2000. Four years later,

> Warner-Lambert pleaded guilty and agreed to pay $430 million to resolve

> off-label marketing allegations by the U.S. Justice Department.

>

> Saris, who is overseeing Neurontin cases from across the U.S.

> consolidated in federal court in Boston

> <http://topics.bloomberg.com/boston/>, recently dismissed more than 40

> suits and a state-court judge in Missouri

> <http://topics.bloomberg.com/missouri/> refused in August to all former

> Neurontin users to combine claims into a class-action case.

>

> The case is In re Neurontin Marketing, Sales Practices and Products

> Liability Litigation, MDL 1629, U.S. District Court, District of

> Massachusetts <http://topics.bloomberg.com/massachusetts/> (Boston).

>

> To contact the reporters on this story: Jef Feeley in Wilmington,

> Delaware at jfeeley@... <mailto:jfeeley@...>;

> Janelle Lawrence in Boston at jmlawrence@...

>

> To contact the editor responsible for this story: E. Rovella at

> drovella@bloomberg <mailto:drovella@...>.net

>