Blank Rome Represents Whistleblowers in Landmark Healthcare Settlement for $349.2 Million
Blank Rome represented three whistleblowers in two of nine lawsuits being settled with Pfizer for $2.3 billion. The Blank Rome suits allege that Pfizer Inc. illegally off-label promoted the drugs Lyrica® and Geodon®. The Geodon® settlement is $301 million and the Lyrica® settlement is $48.2 million.
The cases are two among a group of nine similar suits, all alleging illegal drug promotion activities. The settlement is the largest in the U.S. for claims of off-label marketing practices. Pfizer, through its Pharmacia & Upjohn Co. subsidiary, will plead guilty to one criminal count stemming from the improper promotion of its drug Bextra®, and pay a $1.3 billion penalty that is part of the total agreement.
The Blank Rome suits were filed in Boston, MA, and coordinated through the Boston U.S. Attorney’s office, working closely with the U.S. Department of Justice and various state attorneys’ general offices.
whistleblowers