Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Pfizer - Neurontin; never mind the patients, now the doctors are suing

Boston, MA, May 18, 2006 - This week, David Longmire, M.D., an Alabama neurologist and specialist in neuropathic pain evaluation and management, filed a lawsuit against Warner-Lambert, Inc. and its parent company, Pfizer for fraudulent misrepresentation, concealment and deceit.

This lawsuit arises out of a May 13, 2004 prosecution in which Warner-Lambert and its Parke-Davis division, acquired by Pfizer in 2000, pled guilty to charges that it criminally violated the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. § 331 et seq. associated with its marketing and sales practices for their epilepsy drug known Neurontin.

Related to the 2004 case, Dr. Longmire’s lawsuit charges that Warner-Lambert defrauded him by exploiting his medical expertise and reputation and luring him to unwittingly participate in a deceptive scheme to market Neurontin for certain unapproved uses, commonly known as “off-label” uses.

These uses included post-herpetic neuralgia, painful diabetic neuralgia, anxiety disorder, social phobias, and bipolar disorder. As a result of the fraud, Dr. Longmire’s name has been included in multi-district litigation lawsuits, thereby impugning his reputation among his colleagues and peers and calling his integrity into question.

An intersting "twist". Maybe the start of a trend!?

Insider wonders how, exactly, the good doctor was "lured"!

Thanks to Capsules.

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