The state attorney general’s office has announced a settlement in a 5-year, 33-state fraud investigation of the Pfizer drug company. The pharmaceutical company will pay almost $43 million to the 33 states for its unlawful marketing of two antibiotic drugs and claiming that its brand name drug was superior to a generic equivalent.
Texas will receive $3.9 million in the settlement.
Under the agreement, Pfizer must also adjust its future marketing to ensure it does not make false or misleading claims about the safety or efficacy of Zyvox when comparing it to the generic Vancomycin.
Additional requirements in the settlement:
- It must not promote any of its medicines for off-label uses
- It must design its incentive structure to make sure sales personnel are not motivated to improperly promote its drugs
- It must notify the Pfizer sales force of any FDA warning letters and how such letters may affect their promotions.