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Drug Companies Actively Promoting Unapproved Uses

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Maggiedoll
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21 Oct 2009, 4:05 am

Not that this is anything new, but Pfizer has now been fined 2.3 billion dollars for actively encouraging doctors to prescribe drugs for uses that aren't FDA approved.
http://health.yahoo.com/experts/healthn ... o-too-far/

Quote:
Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer crossed the line recently when the company paid doctors to attend lavish meetings that promoted FDA-approved drugs for uses and in doses not approved by the FDA. In response, the FDA has made a strong statement by fining Pfizer $2.3 billion--yes, that's right: billions--the largest fine ever imposed for such a violation.



sinsboldly
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21 Oct 2009, 7:36 am

my first thought, when I read your title on the Home Page was " no kiddin'" :wink:

good article, Maggie



david_42
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21 Oct 2009, 6:21 pm

I didn't understand question #4 in the article.

Companies don't pay fines, their customers do.



Maggiedoll
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25 Oct 2009, 1:38 pm

sinsboldly wrote:
my first thought, when I read your title on the Home Page was " no kiddin'" :wink:

Lol, yea, the news is that they got in trouble!

david_42 wrote:
I didn't understand question #4 in the article.

Companies don't pay fines, their customers do.

The questions were "things to ask your doctor if you they prescribe you something for an off-label use. A lot of insurance companies won't cover medications that aren't being prescribed for their approved uses. The insurance company sees that you've been prescribed a drug but not diagnosed with a disorder that the drug is approved to treat, and they don't pay for it.