Post by unlawflcombatnt on May 17, 2010 11:07:22 GMT -6
Pfizer settled another case today regarding its drug Neurontin.
I remember quite clearly when Neurontin hit the market in the late 90's. It was initially approved as an anti-epilepsy drug. But almost immediately, it started being used for depression, anxiety, and, eventually, almost every disease known to man.
Not surprisingly, it was also one of the most expensive drugs on the market. And major $$$ were spent getting it approved for Medi-Cal, so that state taxpayers would be forced to pick up the tab--and help supplement Pfizer's revenue stream.
Also worth noting is that Pfizer is the manufacturer of Lipitor--
of "I-trust-my-heart to Lipitor" fame. (Which, incidentally, is also produced by Pfizer Ireland to avoid US Corporate taxes.)
from preview Bloomberg
Pfizer Settles Neurontin Epilepsy Drug Suit
Over Retired Minister's Death
By Jef Feeley
May 17, 2010
"Pfizer Inc. agreed to settle a wrongful-death lawsuit alleging its Neurontin epilepsy medicine caused a retired minister to commit suicide two months after he started taking the drug.
Lawyers for New York-based Pfizer, the world’s biggest drugmaker, told a judge in Nashville, Tennessee, they resolved claims by the family of Richard Smith, which were set to go to trial today. It’s the second settlement of claims that officials of a Pfizer unit knew the epilepsy drug posed a suicide risk and failed to disclose it to patients and doctors.
“I’m very pleased the case has been resolved,” U.S. District Judge Aleta Trauger told lawyers for Smith’s family and the company today. The terms weren’t disclosed. Smith, 79, was a retired Church of Christ minister, according to court papers.
Pfizer faces more than 1,000 lawsuits accusing it of illegally promoting Neurontin for unapproved uses and helping to cause some users’ suicides. In March, a Boston jury ordered Pfizer to pay more than $140 million in damages to an insurer over its marketing practices in connection with the drug.....
Its Warner-Lambert subsidiary pleaded guilty in 2004 to criminal charges filed by the Justice Department in connection with allegations it illegally marketed Neurontin and paid a $430 million fine. Pfizer acquired Warner-Lambert in 2000....
“We are pleased to have reached an agreement with the Smith family to resolve this case as it avoids the time and expense of a trial,” Chris Loder, a Pfizer spokesman, said in an e-mailed statement....
Smith, who worked part-time as a service manager at a Nashville office-machines store, began taking Neurontin in March 2004 to deal with chronic pain tied to back and neck surgeries, according to court filings. Lawyers for his family say in the filings that Warner-Lambert officials didn’t properly warn Smith’s doctors the drug had been found to cause depression and suicidal thoughts in some users.
In May, Smith killed himself with a gunshot to the head, according to the filings. In a note he left to his family, Smith indicated he was tired of being in pain....
Lawyers for Smith’s family said he’d told relatives prior to his suicide that the Neurontin “was making him feel not himself,” according to court filings. “Mr. Smith’s death was inexplicable to family members because Mr. Smith was a godly man and he knew suicide was wrong,” they added in the filing....
The case is Ruby Smith v. Pfizer Inc., 05-cv-11515-PBS, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Tennessee (Nashville)."
I remember quite clearly when Neurontin hit the market in the late 90's. It was initially approved as an anti-epilepsy drug. But almost immediately, it started being used for depression, anxiety, and, eventually, almost every disease known to man.
Not surprisingly, it was also one of the most expensive drugs on the market. And major $$$ were spent getting it approved for Medi-Cal, so that state taxpayers would be forced to pick up the tab--and help supplement Pfizer's revenue stream.
Also worth noting is that Pfizer is the manufacturer of Lipitor--
of "I-trust-my-heart to Lipitor" fame. (Which, incidentally, is also produced by Pfizer Ireland to avoid US Corporate taxes.)
from preview Bloomberg
Pfizer Settles Neurontin Epilepsy Drug Suit
Over Retired Minister's Death
By Jef Feeley
May 17, 2010
"Pfizer Inc. agreed to settle a wrongful-death lawsuit alleging its Neurontin epilepsy medicine caused a retired minister to commit suicide two months after he started taking the drug.
Lawyers for New York-based Pfizer, the world’s biggest drugmaker, told a judge in Nashville, Tennessee, they resolved claims by the family of Richard Smith, which were set to go to trial today. It’s the second settlement of claims that officials of a Pfizer unit knew the epilepsy drug posed a suicide risk and failed to disclose it to patients and doctors.
“I’m very pleased the case has been resolved,” U.S. District Judge Aleta Trauger told lawyers for Smith’s family and the company today. The terms weren’t disclosed. Smith, 79, was a retired Church of Christ minister, according to court papers.
Pfizer faces more than 1,000 lawsuits accusing it of illegally promoting Neurontin for unapproved uses and helping to cause some users’ suicides. In March, a Boston jury ordered Pfizer to pay more than $140 million in damages to an insurer over its marketing practices in connection with the drug.....
Its Warner-Lambert subsidiary pleaded guilty in 2004 to criminal charges filed by the Justice Department in connection with allegations it illegally marketed Neurontin and paid a $430 million fine. Pfizer acquired Warner-Lambert in 2000....
“We are pleased to have reached an agreement with the Smith family to resolve this case as it avoids the time and expense of a trial,” Chris Loder, a Pfizer spokesman, said in an e-mailed statement....
Smith, who worked part-time as a service manager at a Nashville office-machines store, began taking Neurontin in March 2004 to deal with chronic pain tied to back and neck surgeries, according to court filings. Lawyers for his family say in the filings that Warner-Lambert officials didn’t properly warn Smith’s doctors the drug had been found to cause depression and suicidal thoughts in some users.
In May, Smith killed himself with a gunshot to the head, according to the filings. In a note he left to his family, Smith indicated he was tired of being in pain....
Lawyers for Smith’s family said he’d told relatives prior to his suicide that the Neurontin “was making him feel not himself,” according to court filings. “Mr. Smith’s death was inexplicable to family members because Mr. Smith was a godly man and he knew suicide was wrong,” they added in the filing....
The case is Ruby Smith v. Pfizer Inc., 05-cv-11515-PBS, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Tennessee (Nashville)."