GSK Agrees To $105 Million Settlement For Improper Marketing Of Paxil, Other Drugs

Drug maker GlaxoSmithKline has once again agreed to a settlement to resolve allegations involving the improper marketing of its medications for off-label uses not approved by the FDA. The company reached a $105 million settlement agreement this week with 44 states and the District of Columbia, for the promotion of its blockbuster antidepressants Paxil and Wellbutrin, and its asthma drug Advair. If you believe you have been adversely affected by side effects of Paxil or another potentially dangerous drug, contact our drug injury lawyers at Bandas Law Firm today. You may have grounds to file a Paxil lawsuit against GlaxoSmithKline, in order to pursue financial compensation for your injuries and medical expenses.

gsk allegedly withheld paxil safety information

According to the complaint, which was brought against GlaxoSmithKline by federal regulators, the drug company allegedly concealed and misrepresented the findings of clinical studies that illustrated Paxil’s ineffectiveness in treating children and teens with depression, and those that linked Paxil to an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and acts in adolescents. “Medical decisions are among the most personal and important decisions an individual makes,” said New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, “and drug companies should be held accountable for misleading claims made in advertising.”

gsk promoted paxil for off-label uses

Under the settlement agreement, GlaxoSmithKline is prohibited, among other things, from making claims that its medications are better, more effective, or have less severe side effects than other drugs, unless the claims are supported by “substantial evidence or substantial clinical experience.” Furthermore, the drug maker is prohibited from presenting favorable findings from a study that is inadequate in design and scope, and is also required to acknowledge if the company contributed funding to the study when submitting it for publication. Finally, GSK is required to stop the practice of providing samples of its products to medical professionals, who are expected to prescribe the drugs for off-label uses.

our paxil birth defect lawyers can help

This isn’t the first time GlaxoSmithKline has faced legal action over its off-label marketing of Paxil and other pharmaceutical drugs. In 2012, the drug maker settled criminal charges that it illegally marketed Paxil and Wellbutrin for unapproved uses and concealed safety information about the medications from federal drug regulators. GSK has also settled hundreds of Paxil lawsuits filed on behalf of children who were born with serious birth defects after being exposed to the antidepressant in pregnancy. If you took Paxil while pregnant and your child was born with PPHN, a heart defect, a neural tube birth defect, or another serious malformation, consult our reputable birth injury attorneys at Bandas Law Firm for legal help. With our law firm on your side, you can protect your legal rights and seek fair and timely reimbursement for your child’s injuries.