Healthy Skepticism Library item: 11718

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Tanne JH.
Bristol-Myers Squibb to pay $0.5bn to settle US lawsuits
BMJ 2007 Oct 13; 335:(7623):742
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/short/335/7623/742-b?etoc

Abstract:

Bristol-Myers Squibb and its subsidiary Apothecon have agreed to pay more than $515m (£255m; 365m) in a settlement with the US Department of Justice and the Office of the United States Attorney for Massachusetts to resolve allegations involving their drug marketing and pricing practices.

The Department of Justice said in a press release that the “settlement covers a wide assortment of illegal marketing and pricing practices.”

The department said that from about 2000 to mid-2003 Bristol-Myers Squibb made illegal payments to doctors and other healthcare providers to induce them to purchase the company’s drugs. The payments were made in the form of consulting fees and expenses to participate in consulting programmes, advisory boards, and preceptorships. Some programmes involved trips to luxury resorts.

From 1994 to 2001 Apothecon paid illegal remuneration to retail pharmacies and wholesalers to buy its drugs. The government alleged that in paying this illegal remuneration the company . . .