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The government awards contracts to companies with histories of misconduct such as contract fraud and environmental, ethics, and labor violations. In the absence of a centralized federal database listing instances of misconduct, the Project On Government Oversight (POGO) is providing such data. We believe that it will lead to improved contracting decisions and public access to information about how the government spends hundreds of billions of taxpayer money each year on goods and services. Report an instance of misconduct »

Pfizer, Inc.

Illegal Marketing of Bextra and Other Drugs

Date: 09/02/2009 (Date of Announcement)

Misconduct Type: Health

Enforcement Agency: Multiple Agencies

Contracting Party: None

Court Type: Criminal

Amount: $2,300,000,000

Disposition: Pleaded Guilty

Synopsis: In September 2009, Pfizer agreed to pay $2.3 billion to settle federal and state civil and criminal allegations that it had illegally marketed four drugs -- Bextra, Geodon, Zyvox, and Lyrica -- with the intent to defraud or mislead by promoting the drugs for non-approved uses. $1.3 billion of that was paid by Pfizer subsidiary Pharmacia & Upjohn Company, Inc., which pleaded guilty to a felony violation of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act for its promotion of Bextra. Pfizer paid a $1 billion civil fine to settle allegations it had illegally promoted the drugs for uses that were not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and caused false claims to be submitted to Medicare and Medicaid programs. Pfizer denied all of the civil allegations, with the exception that Pfizer acknowledged certain improper actions related to the promotion of Zyvox.