Pfizer Inc., manufacturer of Lipitor, Effexor, Zoloft and numerous other medications, has agreed to pay $325 million to resolve a decade-old lawsuit over Neurontin, a drug developed to treat epilepsy. Pfizer was accused of selling the drug without approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and without medical support for its claimed benefits, in an attempt to maximize profits.
This is not the first time that Pfizer has had to pay for its Neurontin marketing. In April of this year, they paid $190 million to resolve claims that it took steps to keep cheaper competitors of the drug off of the market. In May of 2004, Pfizer paid $430 million and pleaded guilty to criminal charges for false marketing of Neurontin as a pain reliever.
On top of these cases, Pfizer paid $450 million to settle unlawful marketing claims in late 2013 related to its immunosuppressant drug, Rapamune.
Pfizer is also facing a number of lawsuits over its cholesterol-lowering product Lipitor. Pfizer faces the first trial in a Lipitor lawsuit on July 1, 2015. The numerous Lipitor lawsuits filed by women so far claim that Lipitor causes diabetes.
You should always consult with your medical provider before making any changes in medication. If you or a loved one has suffered an injury as a result of misleading drug information or incorrectly prescribed medication, you should contact a Lopez McHugh attorney for a free consultation.
