AstraZeneca agreed to pay $110 million to settle two U.S. lawsuits claiming that the company fraudulently marketed Seroquel and Crestor, agreeing to pay $110 million. The drugmaker denies the allegations, but says, “it is in the best interests of the company to resolve these matters […] while avoiding the delay, uncertainty, and expense of protracted litigation.”
Settling with the state of Texas, AstraZeneca will pay a total of $110 million to resolve claims that the company encouraged doctors to use the drugs for unapproved uses—$90 million for Seroquel and $20 million for Crestor. Texas originally sought $5 billion from the company.
While a doctor has significant discretion when prescribing drugs for use beyond their approved indications, drugmakers are forbidden from participating in such a practice.
Seroquel was approved in 1997 to treat schizophrenia, and in 2004, was cleared to treat patients with bipolar depression.
(Source: Bloomberg)
