
05-07-2012, 08:16 PM
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PW Enlightenment
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Esto perpetua
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Abbott Labs agrees to pay $1.6 billion to settle Depakote cases
Quote:
Abbott Laboratories said it will pay $1.6 billion to settle federal and state claims that it improperly marketed the neurological medication Depakote for off-label uses.
Abbott will pay $800 million to resolve civil allegations split among federal and state governments, $700 million in criminal penalties and $100 million to states to resolve consumer protection matters, the Abbott Park, Ill., company said Monday.
Abbott said in previous filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission that it had earmarked $1.5 billion for a potential settlement.
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Quote:
Abbott Labs agrees to pay $1.6 billion to settle Depakote cases - latimes.com
Depakote, an anti-seizure and mood-stabilizing drug, is approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat epilepsy, bipolar disorder and migraine prevention. Lawsuits filed by four groups of whistle-blowers alleged that Abbott marketed the drug for off-label uses, including for treatment of schizophrenia, dementia and autism. The Justice Department intervened in those suits to determine whether the company's marketing of the drug violated civil and criminal laws, including fraudulently charging Medicare and Medicaid.
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They plead guilty. The fine reflects the seriousness and culpability. They trained a whole section of ad execs to market this for things the drug is not approved for.
Corporations are people. Why isn't someone going to prison? 
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