Pfizer accused of marketing epilepsy drug illegally

nandotimes.com ^ | October 18, 2002

[krodriguesdc]

Business: Pfizer accused of marketing epilepsy drug illegally

The Associated Press

BOSTON (October 18, 2002 6:50 p.m. EDT) - Attorneys general in 47 states are investigating whether pharmaceutical giant Pfizer illegally marketed the epilepsy drug Neurontin to physicians.

Washington state Assistant Attorney General David Waterbury said in an affidavit filed in U.S. District Court in Boston this week that he is leading the fraud investigation for the states and the District of Columbia.

Waterbury's statements were attached to a court filing in the civil lawsuit of Dr. David Franklin, a former company sales representative turned whistleblower who has sued both Pfizer and Parke-Davis in Massachusetts. The companies merged two years ago.

In the filing, Waterbury indicated that he requested extensive data from state Medicaid programs over the past eight months, including the prescribing practices of individual doctors for dates before and after their exposure to specific marketing practices.

The affidavit was included with a request from Franklin's attorney, Thomas Greene, seeking more time to gather evidence.

The civil lawsuit and the separate criminal investigation seek to prove that Parke-Davis and its parent company, Warner-Lambert, illegally influenced and paid kickbacks to doctors to prescribe Neurontin for conditions for which the drug was not approved.

A Pfizer spokesman declined to comment on the investigation, but the company has denied the allegations in the past.

[billorites]

Stockholders will have a fit.

[Fractal Trader]

This is just sour grapes from the regulatory world. This article is nothing new.

Any practitioner will tell you that Neurontin is a highly effective drug for many off-label purposes. However, since the drug is near patent expiration and the costs of trials are extremely high, it is assuredly unprofitable to try to prove its efficacy in traditional manners.

Many drugs have been marketed off label with no complaints. I think what the attorneys general would really like is some money to line their products, not drug reform.

[toddst]

Many drugs have been marketed off label with no complaints. I think what the attorneys general would really like is some money to line their products, not drug reform.

You are exactly right. If the cost of trials were reduced and new applications of the drug allowed for extension of patents, the situation would change.

[dawn53]

I've got no problem with Neurontin being used for other purposes. I do have a problem if indeed doctors are receiving "paid kickbacks" for prescribing certain drugs.

[jrg]

My son has epilepsy and we are constantly trying new drugs in an attempt to control it. Neurontin turned this child into Damien...Uncontrollable rages,suicidal tendencies, etc. (in an 8 year old at the time). When weaned off this drug, he returned to his normal self...Personally, I'm not a big fan of Neurontin, but these kinds of medicines affect people in different ways...
As an aside, even with insurance, we pay a FORTUNE monthly in medical costs....I believe we'd do better buying drugs off the street.

[STD]

eerR What street drug? CRACK! sarcasm