By WSLS-TV 10
Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli announced today that he and 32 other attorneys general reached a $42.9 million settlement with Pfizer, Inc. to resolve allegations that the drug company unlawfully promoted its drugs Zyvox and Lyrica.
The attorneys general allege that Pfizer engaged in deceptive practices in its promotion of Zyvox, an antibacterial agent approved to treat nosocomial pneumonia caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and complicated skin and skin structure infections caused by MRSA, by making misleading and unsubstantiated superiority claims and by broadening its indications beyond those for which it was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In addition, the attorneys general allege that Pfizer engaged in deceptive practices in promoting Lyrica for off-label uses.
“This settlement ensures that drug companies will not endanger consumers’ health by making false claims in the promotion of their products,” Attorney General Cuccinelli said.
As part of the settlement, Pfizer agreed to reform how it markets and promotes Zyvox and Lyrica. Under the terms of the settlement, Pfizer is prohibited from:
- Making any false, misleading, or deceptive claims when comparing the efficacy or safety of Zyvox to vancomycin;
- Promoting any Pfizer product for off-label uses;
- Failing to design financial incentives that ensure that its marketing personnel are not motivated to engage in the improper marketing of Zyvox or Lyrica; or
- Failing to notify its sales force promptly of any warning letter received from the FDA that affects sales representatives in the promotion of Pfizer products.
Under the settlement, Virginia will receive $1,223,026 to help fund future consumer protection enforcement.
The settlement, which is in the form of a consent judgment, has been filed with the Circuit Court for the City of Richmond for approval.
The investigation was led by the Attorney General Greg Abbott of Texas with an Executive Committee consisting of the attorneys general of Arizona, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina. Also participating in the settlement are Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
http://www2.wsls.com/news/2012/dec/12/cuccinelli-announces-pfizer-settlement-over-zyvox-ar-2412923/