AHF: Pfizer Wrongdoing Echoes Viagra Case
A Long-time Advocate Against Unlawful and Irresponsible Drug Marketing Tactics, AHF Lauds the U.S. Justice Department for Holding Pfizer Accountable
By: AIDS Healthcare Foundation
Washington, D.C. - September 3, 2009
As part of its ongoing campaign to lower drug prices and increase access, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) today lauded the U.S. Justice Department’s crackdown on Pfizer, inc. for its fraudulent drug marketing practices. It was reported today that Pfizer Inc. agreed to a $1.2 billion criminal fine, the largest in U.S. history, to resolve an investigation over unlawful prescription drug promotions, including the promotion of several drugs for the treatment of medical conditions other than those the drugs had been approved for by federal regulators—also known as “off-label” use.
AIDS Healthcare Foundation believes that the fraudulent marketing practices detailed in today’s announcement strongly echo AHF’s own 2007 lawsuit against Pfizer, Inc., the manufacturer of the blockbuster erectile-dysfunction (ED) drug, Viagra (sildenafil citrate), over its irresponsible marketing tactics drug, which encouraged the drug’s off-label use. AHF sued the drug manufacturer for “Unlawful, Unfair and Fraudulent Business Practices” and challenged “...the unjust and illegal conduct of drug maker Pfizer Inc., whose unlawful and deceptive marketing of its erectile dysfunction drug Viagra has caused an increase in the spread of sexually transmitted diseases including but not limited to HIV/AIDS. Pfizer has engaged in and continues to engage in this conduct despite clear evidence of its illegality and harmful effects.” AHF also banned pharmaceutical sales representatives from Pfizer Inc. from calling on AHF’s medical providers and staff at its healthcare centers.
“AHF—a longtime advocate against harmful drug marketing practices—lauds the actions of the U.S. Justice Department for holding Pfizer accountable for its illegal and fraudulent actions,” said Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation. “We believe that such practices are, unfortunately, widespread within the pharmaceutical industry. The time has come for all drug companies—not just Pfizer—to be held responsible for harm done to public health in the name of exorbitant profit.”
According to an article in Bloomberg today(Pfizer Agrees to Record Criminal Fine in Fraud Investigation): “Pfizer Inc. agreed to a $1.2 billion criminal fine, the largest in U.S. history, and a felony plea by a subsidiary to close an investigation into what government lawyers described as fraudulent marketing of drugs…The four-year investigation uncovered a range of practices, including kickback payments to doctors in the sale of nine other drugs, among them the impotence drug Viagra and cholesterol pill Lipitor, officials said.”
