Inpharma 1439 - 29 May 2004

■ Off-label gabapentin sales are still soaring despiteevidence of its ineffectiveness in some indications,reports the BMJ. Pfizer recently pleaded guilty tonumerous charges for the illegal promotion of off-labeluse of the drug. The company has agreed to pay acriminal fine of $US240 million, plus $US152 millionto healthcare programmes; the second largest fineissued in the industry. However, the settlement is onlya minor setback for Pfizer with worldwide gabapentin[Neurontin] sales increasing from $US1.3 billion in2000 to $US2.7 billion in 2003. Off-label indicationsaccounted for > 90% of sales in 2003, according towhistleblower Dr David Franklin.Lenzer J. Pfizer pleads guilty, but drug sales continue to soar. BMJ 328: 1217,No. 7450, 22 May 2004 800973492

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Inpharma 29 May 2004 No. 14391173-8324/10/1439-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved