The ruling is in and Nevada will receive $1.5 million to settle Avandia claims.
Avandia was promoted by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) as a diabetes medication. It was very popular and over half a million prescriptions were filled in 2010.
But there was a downside. A big downside.
A whole host of side effects that led to thousands of lawsuits filed as well as other proven claims that GlaxoSmithKline deceptively promoted Avandia and other drugs illegally.
Some of the most reported Avandia side effects included stroke, heart attack, congestive heart failure, cardiovascular heart disease and other heart injuries as well as liver failure.
The FDA pulled the drug in November 2011, however there is still a way for certain people to be able to take Avandia if they participate in a special program.
Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto said that Nevada’s portion is part of a $90 million settlement between GlaxoSmithKline and attorney generals from 38 different states.
GSK was ordered to pay a whopping $3 billion in order to resolve criminal and civil charges rising from illegal promotion of some of their medications.
In addition to the findings on Avandia, the pharmaceutical giant basically bribed doctors to use their medication by illegally promoting them.
You’d think they were running a telemarketing firm, rather than a pharmaceutical company that is supposed to make medication to help people and not harm them!
They gave away Hawaiian vacations, spa programs, concert tickets and even a European pheasant hunt to the apparently willing doctors.
According to Health Central, the $3 billion figure is the largest penalty ever paid by a drug company for a fraud case.
Broken down, $2 billion of the fine is for civil penalties for Paxil, Wellbutrin and Avandia, as well as other drugs, while the other $1 billion goes toward criminal complaints about their failure to report Avandia’s safety data.
In addition, GSK will be monitored by government officials for five years to ensure the company is compliant.
Corporate greed at it’s very best. It’s a shame that so many people had to suffer.
There are still many people out there who place complete trust in the physician treating them and do not ask or research the drugs they are taking.
Avoid being a victim and research and ask question.
For some great additional information, please see our list of 10 things you should do before filling a prescription that could save your life.