Sales reps in the US encouraged to mis-sell antidepressants Paxil and Wellbutrin and asthma treatment Advair.
The pharmaceutical group
GlaxoSmithKline
has been fined $3bn (£1.9bn) after admitting bribing doctors and
encouraging the prescription of unsuitable antidepressants to children.
Glaxo is also expected to admit failing to report safety problems with
the diabetes drug Avandia in a district court in Boston on Thursday.
The
company encouraged sales reps in the US to mis-sell three drugs to
doctors and lavished hospitality and kickbacks on those who agreed to
write extra prescriptions, including trips to resorts in Bermuda,
Jamaica and California.
The company admitted corporate misconduct over the antidepressants Paxil and Wellbutrin and asthma drug Advair.
Psychiatrists
and their partners were flown to five-star hotels, on all-expenses-paid
trips where speakers, paid up to $2,500 to attend, gave presentations
on the drugs. They could enjoy diving, golf, fishing and other extra
activities arranged by the company.
GSK also paid for
articles on its drugs to appear in medical journals and "independent"
doctors were hired by the company to promote the treatments, according
to court documents.
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*Vaccine fraud? What about psychiatric fraud? Staggering.
