Global Navigation
Office of The Attorney General
The State of New Jersey Office of The Attorney General (Dept. of Law & Public Safety) The State of New Jersey NJ Home Services A to Z Departments/Agencies OAG Frequently Asked Questions
Services A to Z Departments/Agencies OAG Frequently Asked Questions
OAG Home
OAG Contact
spacer
Back to News Releases
OAG Home Attorney General's Biography
Attorney General's Biography
spacer spacer spacer
 
spacer spacer spacer
spacer spacer spacer
For Immediate Release:
For Further Information:
December 12, 2012 

Office of The Attorney General
- Jeffrey S. Chiesa, Attorney General
Division of Law
- Christopher S. Porrino, Director

Media Inquiries-
Lee Moore
609-292-4791

Citizen Inquiries-

609-984-5828
spacer
spacer spacer spacer
spacer
State to Receive $1.79 Million as Part of Settlement Resolving Allegations of Deceptive Practices Involving Pfizer Drugs
spacer
spacer spacer spacer
spacer
View Consent Decree I View Complaint
spacer
spacer spacer spacer
spacer
TRENTON – Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa announced today that New Jersey will receive approximately $1.79 million as a result of its participation in a multi-state settlement with Pfizer Inc that resolves allegations the company deceptively marketed two of its drugs – Zyvox and Lyrica.

Under terms of the settlement, Pfizer has agreed to pay a total of $42.9 million to   33 states and the District of Columbia. The settlement resolves allegations that Pfizer made unfounded claims of product superiority on behalf of Zyvox that broadened  indications for the drug, and that it engaged in unfair and deceptive practices by promoting Lyrica for “off-label” uses -- those not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA.)

As part of the settlement, Pfizer has agreed to change the way it markets Zyvox, an antibiotic, and Lyrica, which is used to treat neuropathic pain related to diabetes and shingles. Specifically, Pfizer has agreed to refrain from making deceptive claims about the efficacy of the drugs, and  to avoid promoting them for off-label uses.

New Jersey was among the lead states in negotiating the Pfizer agreement, along with Arizona, Illinois, Maryland, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Texas.
 
“This is an important settlement because it contains accountability measures designed to ensure that, going forward, these drugs are marketed on the basis of objective product information, not promotion-and-sales-driven hyperbole,” said Attorney General Chiesa.

In a prior case, Pfizer acknowledged that it failed to provide adequate guidance to its sales force concerning what were permissible statements about Zyvox, specifically with regard to a competing antibiotic known as vancomycin.

“We take seriously the duty pharmaceutical companies have to provide consumers and health care professionals with clear, accurate and complete information about their products, and to avoid deception or misleading claims,” Chiesa said.

A Consent Judgment filed today in New Jersey Superior Court requires that Pfizer refrain in the future from making such claims on behalf of Zyvox or any other drug.

Among other things, the Consent Judgment also prohibits Pfizer from:

  • Promoting Zyvox or Lyrica to any health care provider who practices in a specialty that is unlikely to prescribe Zyvox or Lyrica for an FDA- approved purpose.

  • Promoting any Pfizer product for any off-label use.

  • Seeking the inclusion of Zyvox or Lyrica in hospital protocols or standing orders unless Zyvox or Lyrica have been approved by the FDA for the use included in the protocol or standing order.

  • Having financial incentives that provide for compensation based on sales attributable to off-label uses of any Pfizer product.

The Pfizer matter was handled by Deputy Attorney General Patricia A. Schiripo, Assistant Chief of the Division of Law’s Consumer Fraud Prosecution Section, and Deputy Attorney General Cathleen O’Donnell of the Consumer Fraud Prosecution Section.

###

spacer
spacer spacer spacer
spacer
 
 
Contact OAG About OAG
OAG News OAG Frequently Asked Questions
OAG Library Employment
OAG Grants Proposed Rules
OAG History OAG Services A-Z
OAG Agencies / Programs / Units
Other News Pages Otras Noticias en Español Division of NJ State Police Division of Law News Governor's Office News Division of Highway Traffic Safety News Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Juvenile Justice Commission News Division on Civil Rights News Division of Consumer Affairs News Division of Criminal Justice News Election Law Enforcement Commission Division of Gaming Enforcement News
NJ State Police News Governor's Office News Division of Highway Traffic Safety News Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Juvenile Justice Commission News Division on Civil Rights News Division of Consumer Affairs News Division of Criminal Justice News Election Law Enforcement Commission Division of Elections News Division of Gaming Enforcement News Office of Government Integrity News

free PDF plugin

NJ State Police News Governor's Office News Division of Highway Traffic Safety News Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Juvenile Justice Commission News Division on Civil Rights News Division of Consumer Affairs News Division of Criminal Justice News Election Law Enforcement Commission Division of Elections News Division of Gaming Enforcement News Office of Government Integrity News
   
Contact Us | Privacy Notice | Legal Statement | Accessibility Statement
NJ Home Logo
Departmental: OAG Home | Contact OAG | About OAG | OAG News | OAG FAQs
Statewide: NJ Home | Services A to Z | Departments/Agencies | FAQs
Copyright © State of New Jersey
This page is maintained by OAG Communications. Comments/Questions: email or call 609-292-4925
OAG Home OAG Home NJ State Police News Governor's Office News Division of Highway Traffic Safety News Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Juvenile Justice Commission News Division on Civil Rights News Division of Consumer Affairs News Division of Criminal Justice News Election Law Enforcement Commission Division of Elections News Division of Gaming Enforcement News Office of Government Integrity News Click to Enlarge Image Click to Enlarge Image Click to Enlarge Graphic Click to enlarge chart Click to enlarge map