British drugmaker
GlaxoSmithKline will pay $3 billion in fines - the largest heathcare
fraud settlement in U.S. history - for criminal and civil violations
involving 10 drugs that are taken by millions of people.
The
Justice Department said Monday that GlaxoSmithKline PLC will plead
guilty to promoting popular antidepressants Paxil and Wellbutrin for
unapproved uses. The company also will plead guilty to failing to report
to the government for seven years some safety problems with diabetes
drug Avandia, which was restricted in the U.S. and banned in Europe
after it was found in 2007 to sharply increase the risks of heart
attacks and congestive heart failure.
In
addition to the fine, Glaxo agreed to resolve civil liability for
promoting Paxil, Wellbutrin, asthma drug Advair and two lesser-known
drugs for unapproved uses. The company also resolved accusations that it
overcharged the government-funded Medicaid program for some drugs, and
that it paid kickbacks to doctors to prescribe several drugs including
Flovent for asthma and Valtrex for genital herpes.
Sir Andrew Witty, Glaxo's CEO, expressed regret Monday and said the company has learned "from the mistakes that were made."
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