Pam Bondi Announces $43 Million Settlement with Pfizer over Alleged Deceptive Drug Marketing

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Wednesday that she and33 other attorneys general have reached a $42.9 million settlement with Pfizerresolving allegations that the company engaged in unfair anddeceptive trade practices while promoting its drugs Zyvox and Lyrica.Under the settlement, Florida will receive approximately $2.1 million.

Bondi alleged that Pfizer misled consumers throughunsubstantiated claims for Zyvox, an antibacterial agent. Zyvox is used totreat certain types of infections, such as nosocomial pneumonia caused bymethicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and related skininfections. Pfizer allegedlypromoted Zyvox as a superior alternative medication to the antibiotic vancomycin, this despite the fact that no scientific evidence exists to back that claim. In addition, Pfizer allegedly failed to disclose harmful side effects of Zyvox.

Bondi also alleged that Pfizer promoted Lyrica, a seizure medication, to treat chronic pain and migraines, without FDA approval.

By requiring Pfizer to change its marketing practices for Zyvox andLyrica, we are ensuring that consumers will not be misled by claims about the drugs, stated Bondi in a press release.

According to the same release, under the consent judgment Pfizer may not:

make any false, misleading, or deceptive claims when comparingthe efficacy or safety of Zyvox to vancomycin;

promote any Pfizer product for off-label uses;

fail to design financial incentives that ensure that itsmarketing personnel are not motivated to engage in impropermarketing of Zyvox or Lyrica; or

fail to notify its sales force promptly of any warning letterreceived from the FDA that affects sales representatives in thepromotion of Pfizer products.

Along with Florida, the following states participated in thesettlement: Texas, Arizona, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania,South Carolina, Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, theDistrict of Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan,Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island,South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Washington, Virginia, and Wisconsin.