Whistleblower suits this year alone have produced payments by pharmaceutical companies for fraudulent practices of more than $4.2 billion. The suits have been filed under the federal False Claims Act, which allows the whistleblower to recover 15-25% of the money paid by the company. This year has seen the following settlements in whistleblower cases:
- $1.4 billion against Eli Lilly for fraudulently and deceptively promoting unapproved uses of Zyprexa, an anti-psychotic drug
- $2.3 billion against Pfizer for illegally promoting use of several drugs including Bextra, Geodon, Zyvox and Lyrica
- $520 million against AstraZeneca for illegally marketing its anti-psychotic drug, Seroquel
More than 1,000 whistleblower cases are backlogged at the Department of Justice including 200 against pharmaceutical companies.
Source: Cincinnati Enquirer
Lexington, Kentucky whistleblower lawyer Robert Abell represents individuals and employees in whistleblower cases and lawsuits.
