First Circuit Affirms $142 Million Award Against Pfizer Over Unapproved Promotion

A federal appeals court April 3 rejected an appeal by Pfizer Inc. seeking to overturn a $142 million award against the drug company in a case involving allegations of unlawful promotion of the drug Neurontin (Kaiser Foundation Health Plan v. Pfizer Inc. (In re Neurontin Marketing and Sales Practices Litigation), 1st Cir., 11-1904, 4/3/13).

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit upheld a 2010 federal jury verdict ordering Pfizer Inc. to pay $142 million for illegally marketing the epilepsy drug Neurontin (gabapentin) for uses not approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The award compensated Kaiser ...