US drug company to pay $1.6bn over Depakote mis-selling

[Dennis the 'Bloody Peasant']

A US drug company has agreed to pay out $1.6bn (£1bn) after improperly marketing a mood-stabilising drug in a settlement thought to be the largest of its kind involving a single drug.
Abbott Laboratories encouraged its sales teams to market Depakote for uses that were not approved by regulators, the US justice department said.
The drug should be used in epilepsy and bipolar disorder cases.
However, it was sold to treat conditions such as dementia and autism.
According to a US justice department statement, Abbott maintained a specialised sales force to market the drug in nursing homes.

(Read more at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-17986753)


So, don't ever have 'socailised medicine' America, because the private sector and the market are more trust worthy and are better able to provide you with the right care and drugs than any elected government ever could...Fuckheads. NHS is not the best but fuck me the private system is viscious and corrupt.

[blake 3:17]

However, it was sold to treat conditions such as dementia and autism.

So bad. The only thing I could imagine it doing for folks with dementia and autism would be to provide a mild tranquilizing effect.

From a different article:
The Justice Department said in a release that the company illegally marketed Depakote for off-label uses, or those not approved by the FDA, including for treatment of schizophrenia, agitated dementia and autism. Though doctors are allowed to prescribe drugs off-label, companies are prohibited from marketing them for such treatments. Off label use can be fine, but to market it? Sleazy.

[Koba Junior]

This deserves something like a "free market derp" hash-tag.