The Pharma-Medical Brotherhood of Death: Biggest Criminal Fine in U.S. History for Pfizer – Rasta Livewire Reports
Pfizer, the world’s largest drugs company, was fined $2.3bn as part of a settlement with federal prosecutors for selling fake medication that could not treat the conditions for which it was prescribed. This is the biggest criminal fine in America’s history.
Pfizer was also fined for paying kickbacks to doctors who collaborated with its evil designed by recommending those useless medications to patients.
Pfizer stood accused of promoting its popular painkiller Bextra for problems far wider than its approved uses under the FDA regime, which were for treating arthritis and menstrual pain. This wicked and corrupt practice put patients at risk of heart attacks, strokes and blood clots.
Other Pfizer made drugs linked to the scandal include the anti-psychotic drug Geodon, as well as the antibiotic Zyvox, and a treatment for epilepsy, known as Lyrica.
The accusations and the fines arose out of a six-year investigation into Pfizer, sparked in part by information provided by John Kopchinski, a former Pfizer sales rep in Florida, who blew the whistle on Pfizer’s wicked and corrupt practices.
As a result of its desire to avoid prosecution and bad publicity, the New York-based company made a settlement deal with the U.S. D.O.J. criminal prosecution team assigned to the case.
Pfizer settled civil allegations concerning improper payments to doctors who prescribed nine other pharmaceutical products. It paid a fine of $1billion.
Additionally, Pfizer subsidiary, Pharmacia & Upjohn, is paying a criminal fine of $1.3bn (nearly £800m), to settle the criminal aspect of the investigation. This amount is a record in American judicial history.
According to the lead D.O.J. lawyer Thom Perrelli: “Every year we lose tens of billions of dollars in Medicare and Medicaid funds to fraud. Those billions represent healthcare dollars that could be spent on medicine, elder care or emergency room visits but instead are spent on medicines or devices that are simply not effective for patients to whom they are prescribed.”
Amy Schulman, Pfizer’s general counsel, yesterday said: “We regret certain actions taken in the past, but are proud of the action we’ve taken to strengthen our internal controls.”
Rasta Livewire Reports
September 3, 2009