REUTERS- Drugmaker Bristol-Myers Squibb Co will pay $19.5 million to resolve
multi-state allegations that it improperly promoted a schizophrenia treatment
for uses not
approved by the U.S. government, New York Attorney General Eric
Schneiderman said on Thursday.
The company's agreement with 42 other states and the District of Columbia
centers on charges that Bristol-Myers Squibb promoted its Abilify
anti-psychotic drug for use in children and elderly patients with dementia and
Alzheimer's disease.
A company spokesman did not have an immediate comment on the settlement.
At the time the marketing of the drug occurred, such uses were not
approved by the Food and Drug Administration. In 2006, the drug had received a
"black box" warning stating that it could increase the risk of death
for dementia patients.
Besides addressing the off-label promotion allegations, the settlement
also resolves charges that the company violated state consumer protection laws
by misrepresenting side effects such as metabolic weight gain.
REUTERS
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