Oops, They Did It Again - What Integrity Means to Pfizer

The satire was biting:

"Thanks for making time to see me today," posted a rep on cafepharma about a fictitious sales meeting with a psychiatrist. "Now, I know that you used Neurontin in the past for every condition under the sun. Pfizer knows very well that you guys were and still continue to be the largest writers of off-label Lyrica and so, in the spirit of Bextra [withdrawn in 2004] will you please write Lyrica as much as possible? Remember Dr, this is Pfizer. The company that never met an off-label sale that it wouldn't cover-up."

Don't forget, writes the next poster on the pharma site, the psychiatrist answers, "Great! and I also heard that it is about to be approved on state Medicaid and I can write it for anything. Is this true?" to which the rep assents in defiance of, "that nice little 2004 CIA agreement."

Pfizer's nice little 2004 "CIA" or Corporate Integrity Agreement in which a company promises to sin no more to which the poster refers was for fraudulent marketing of seizure drug Neurontin. It was preceded by a CIA for fraud related to Pfizer's cholesterol drug, Lipitor, in 2002.

And this month it's followed by a CIA for mis-marketing pain drug Bextra, antipsychotic Geodon, seizure drug Lyrica and antibiotic Zyvox.

Pfizer's $2.3 billion health care fraud settlement with the government announced this month by the US Department of Justice adds some firsts to the world's biggest pharmaceutical company.

It is the largest health care fraud settlement in the history of the Department of Justice "to resolve criminal and civil liability arising from the illegal promotion of certain pharmaceutical products,"--and the largest criminal fine ever imposed in the United States. It covers Pfizer's kickbacks to health care providers and false claims submitted to government health care programs, also known as our tax dollars, in violation of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Forty-three states will share in the "give backs."

But it is not exhaustive.

READ MORE @ COUNTERPUNCH

Dueling Intimidation Allegations Filed in Neurontin Litigation

The continuing litigation about whether Pfizer’s anti-seizure medication Neurontin is linked to suicidal behavior in some patients has been marred by allegations filed by attorneys on both sides accusing the other of using intimidation and strong-arm tactics.


Neurontin, known chemically as gabapentin, is an anti-epileptic medication (also called an anticonvulsant) taken by patients to reduce or eliminate seizures in adults and children as young as 12. The drug has been associated with serious side effects, most notably suicide.
Pfizer
Attorneys representing victims of Neurontin recently accused Pfizer’s counsel of trying to intimidate a potential key witness in the case. Pfizer’s attorneys then returned fire with a similar complaint against David Egilman, an expert witness for the plaintiffs.

READ MORE AT ATTORNEYATLAW.COM

Gabapentin (Neurontin) Eases Chronic Pain in Fibromyalgia

For treating the chronic pain and other symptoms of fibromyalgia, the anticonvulsant gabapentin (Neurontin) proved safe and effective, researchers here reported.

In a 12-week randomized, double-blind clinical trial, patients taking gabapentin displayed significantly less pain, better sleep, and less fatigue than placebo controls, Lesley M. Arnold, M.D., of the University of Cincinnati, and colleagues reported in the April issue of Arthritis and Rheumatism.

READ MORE @ MEDPAGE TODAY