Glaxo to pay Idaho $1.33M in drug settlement
Pharmaceutical manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline LLC will pay Idaho $1.33 million as part of a 38-state settlement over its promotion of its diabetes drug, Avandia. Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden and 38 other state attorneys general contended that the firm claimed the drug had cardiovascular benefits, when it actually may increase cardiovascular risks. The firm admitted no wrongdoing, but it agreed to change its marketing practices for the drug and to pay $90 million to the states to resolve the lawsuit. Click below for Wasden's full announcement. The money will go to Idaho's consumer protection account, where it's subject to legislative appropriation.
STATE OF IDAHO
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
LAWRENCE WASDEN
For Immediate Release
November 15, 2012
GlaxoSmithKline to pay Idaho $1.33 million for deceptive claims
(Boise) – Idaho will receive $1.33 million from a consent judgment reached between GlaxoSmithKline LLC and 37 other state Attorneys General, Attorney General Lawrence Wasden said. While admitting no wrongdoing, GlaxoSmithKline agreed to pay $90 million to resolve allegations that it unlawfully promoted its diabetes drug, Avandia.
The states allege that GlaxoSmithKline made claims that Avandia had cardiovascular benefits, which it did not. The drug may actually increase cardiovascular risks.
Under the consent judgment, GlaxoSmithKline may not:
· Make any false, misleading, or deceptive claims about any diabetes drug;
· Make comparative safety claims not supported by substantial evidence or substantial clinical experience;
· Present favorable information previously thought of as valid but rendered invalid by contrary and more credible recent information;
· Promote investigational drugs; or
· Misuse statistics or otherwise misrepresent the nature, applicability, or significance of clinical trials.
Idaho’s portion of the settlement will be deposited in the Consumer Protection Account, which is subject to legislative appropriation.
This is the third settlement the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division has reached with GlaxoSmithKline.
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