Pfizer Must Pay $141M For Neurontin Marketing
13 CommentsBy Ed Silverman // March 25th, 2010 // 7:56 pm
A federal court jury in Boston found that the drugmaker violated federal racketeering law by improperly promoting the Neurontin epilepsy drug and was ordered to pay $47 million in damages. However, under federal RICO law the penalty is automatically tripled, so the finding will cost Pfizer $141 million. Pfizer was quick to say it would appeal the decision.
In any event, the jury agreed with the plaintiffs, Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, that Pfizer illegally promoted Neurontin for unapproved uses, such as for migraine headaches, pain and bipolar disorder (background here and here). Kaiser was seeking about $100 million in damages and was awarded just under half of that, according to Pfizer.
In 2004, you may recall, Pfizer agreed to pay $430 million in penalties and pleaded guilty to criminal charges of illegally marketing Neurontin, which was obtained with its 2000 acquisition of Warner Lambert. Pfizer contends that the federal judge improperly allowed details of that case and settlement to be considered by the Boston jury, Reuters writes.
The drugmaker also said Kaiser doctors continue to prescribe Neurontin for the so-called off-label uses despite Kaiser attorney contentions that the medicine does not work for those unapproved indications.
“Kaiser itself continues to recommend Neurontin for the same uses they sought recovery for in this case. Kaiser’s own physicians and several of their expert witnesses prescribed Neurontin for their patients based on their sound medical judgment,” Loder said.
Justice in MI
Not sure what this sentence means:
“The drugmaker also said Kaiser doctors continue to prescribe Neurontin for the so-called off-label uses despite Kaiser attorney contentions that the medicine does not work for those unapproved indications.”
Nothing “so-called” about off-label use; it’s either approved or it isn’t.
As for rx’ing, I’d be interested to hear of a case in which gabapentin was successfully used to treat manic depression. We know there are cases when it was written for bipolar pts and they went down the tubes.
Anne PME
So, do past and current Kaiser policyholders get a ‘rollback’ or rebate on their premiums given that Kaiser won the case?
Will other health insurers &/or PBMs follow suit?
Does anyone know if Kaiser ever warning their policyholders about the risks associated with off label prescribing of Neurontin?
Is it true that Kaiser is still allowing off label use and billing of Neurontin among their policyholders? If so, are they allowing off label use because they would likely make more money now that Neurontin is generic?
Reality
Great questions.
Grabapenthing
For the heck of it, went to a site associated with connecting Neurontin with “refractory” bipolar. Took a quick test in which I said that that I was happy, enjoyed sex, could be the life of the party, and had a good appetite.
The results were that I was probably moderately to severely manic and should consult with my doc.
JaT
While I would not be surprised to learn that Neurontin is a generic (as in approved by The Office of Generic Drugs) I was not aware that it is sold as a generic or is priced as such- as compared to other makers of gabapentin.
harry doyle
i live in fredericton new brunswick.having personallyi will swear on an oath,that this drug works for bi-polar.i am so clear headed that i bought 5000 share of pfe for my young wife who will sell the position in 36 years for 2 million. i will be dead and will not text e-mal,or return calls.sincerely, harry doyle
Natalie Biedenbender
I am one of the people who lost their husband
when he committed suicide after taking neurontin for 6 months. Had I known about the side effects including suicidal thoughts or actions maybe I would have notice the change in him sooner. Everyone is getting money the states, the insurance companies, the whistle blower (millions of dollars), but the people that tried to committ suicide and the families that are left behind from the ones who succeeded I dont see a whole lot being done for them or too many articles about what happened to them while this whole thing is going on. Warning labels at least give everyone a fair shake to decide what is best. If the drug works for you great, but what about the ones that it didnt work for I am quite sure in their final days they had no idea what was happening to them. How scared they must have been to have these thoughts in their heads and have absolutly no control over what was going on all so Pfizer could make billions of dollars. Sham on Them
Mike Barton
to the statement for the woman who lost her husband I’m sorry for your loss I was recently married, my wife is on several medications and suffers from extreme migraines after suffering a brain injury from a car accident 14 years ago.
and her doctors took her off all her medications except of Serequel XR and 800 mg of Gabapentin (3 times a day).
I noticed her depression was severe and she not only had suicide thoughts but had a plan.
She is still on this medication and her doctor wants her to up the dose is there anything we can do to get any class acts or get the word out about the. She is Bi-Polar 2 disorder what can we do?
Teresa Teater
to Mike Barton,contact Finklestein and Assc In New York Law Firm.
People whom take Neurontin for only epilpesy
,arent allowed more than 1600 milagrams aday,or their liver can shut down.
Serequel cause onset diabetic wihin one week of statrting it so persons with dementia are not allowed to have it,nor nor body can consent for them to have it.
you need to contact folks at the FDA if you also have concerns.
And Neurontion does nothing for BIPOLar,Pfizer lied and many have died because of their lies about neurontin.
Good luck.
Dr B
neurontin does work in many cases of neuropathy in my experience. FDA continues to make bad decisions–and support dangerous drugs and take good ones off the market
syl skalecki
I AM A CANADIAN—- I was rear-ended in june/9………..partial severed spinal cord-broken vertabrae — severe headaches—- approx. 20 pain drugs over many yrs.—– then neurontin—— realy hard to believe now, that any doctor would prescribe for pain—it never worked—- after 5 yrs. yes 5 yrs. at times not knowing or remembering time in days——– loss of memory— bleeding from tongue-penis-thunbs and rectum….. just a few of the side effects—– loss of sexual activity—— operation to correct rectum bleeding— started using 400 mgs then slowly but surely the amount was increased to 1600 mgs per day—— every day–but still headaches—— probably close to insanity as to comments from friends—– but I still in a—daze-fog–dizziness and mood changes abrutly and often—they should be hung——– at the least—- even that is too good — pain—I would not wish on my worst enemy— ending it—MANY TIMES—THIS..MISUSE of NEURONTIN….but the …….Nedia never mentions this———WHY??? WHY NOT??? DRAGGING in court –probably till all of us are dead——-sincerely——-syl
Jamie M
To: Natalie Biedenbender
I hope you do occasionally check back on some of these sites. I have not seen a post from you in more than a year though. I am so sorry for your loss…I lost my mother in 2004 from the same drug. I was hoping to speak with you. Please let me know if you see this post so I can leave you my email address.
Sincerely,
Jamie
Jamie M
I am so sorry for the pain that the other survivors are feeling. It is cruel to say that it gets better with time…because it doesn’t. It is cruel to watch your loved one lose their mind for years. And devastating to get that phone call that drops your heart into the pit of your stomach. I miss my mother more and more every year. She thought the Neurontin was going to get her better. She just had to stick with her doctors treatment plan. Too bad that doctor was being instructed by a bunch of money hungry drug reps. I’m sure those drug reps didn’t advise their relatives to take 4800mg of Neurontin daily.