GlaxoSmithKline to pay $3bn in US drug fraud scandal

**Marts** · 07-02-12 at 01:11 PM

Quote:

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is to pay $3bn (£1.9bn) in the largest healthcare fraud settlement in US history.

The drug giant is to plead guilty to promoting two drugs for unapproved uses and failing to report safety data about a diabetes drug to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The settlement will cover criminal fines as well as civil settlements with the federal and state governments.

The case concerns the drugs Paxil, Wellbutrin and Avandia.

Deputy US Attorney General James Cole told a news conference in Washington DC that the settlement was "unprecedented in both size and scope".

Code: Select All

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-18673220

**dormin** · 07-02-12 at 01:50 PM

Wow. They should take the whole company down sell all assets and divide the cash up. That would teach all the big boys not to mess around.

**Omega_Prime** · 07-02-12 at 01:53 PM

Not bad... now go after the movie industry for fraud too

**cazmajor** · 07-02-12 at 01:54 PM

.....Sickening.

People should go to prison for this, I wonder how much was made from the selling of those drugs?

Valid_Username · 07-02-12 at 02:01 PM

Quote:

"The sales force bribed physicians to prescribe GSK products using every imaginable form of high-priced entertainment, from Hawaiian vacations [and] paying doctors millions of dollars to go on speaking tours, to tickets to Madonna concerts," said US attorney Carmin Ortiz.

We joke about this kind of stuff, but it really goes on.... bastards!!
The doctors involved should also be beaten to death by an angry mob.

No doubt, because it's a 'British' company, we'll be in the dog house again (*cough*.. BP).
-

jjesso1993 · 07-02-12 at 02:03 PM

do more, feel better, live longer there promise. They should be shut down and treated the same as drug dealers on the streets.

**MacFalic** · 07-02-12 at 04:29 PM

@Valid_Username
It should be no great surprise. The same 'bribery' and 'perks' are part of a company's advertising account. Meaning these are actually scheduled and pre-funded!

I experienced this in the electronic industry, from vendors.(not taken)(no really)

Radio stations are given kickbacks and various inducements to promote\play certain albums\tracks.

After I had lost almost everything I owned, I relied on Doctor's generosity by using drugs from the 'sample room'(yes room). They never seemed to run out of free samples. Which was lucky as Hell while the condition\situation lasted.

elvisfan · 07-02-12 at 07:14 PM

Meanwhile, the lobbyists are busy pressuring Congress to pass legislation to ensure that this kind of fine never happens again.

The poor patients that were affected won't see a dime, just the governmnet.

The lower-level employees will probably see a few layoffs to cover the tax deductible legal expenses. The lawyers get rich, and the CEOs who promoted the fraud escape all liability and might even get a raise in pay.

American Justice.

**Noledox** · 07-02-12 at 10:48 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Valid_Username

We joke about this kind of stuff, but it really goes on.... bastards!!
The doctors involved should also be beaten to death by an angry mob.

No doubt, because it's a 'British' company, we'll be in the dog house again (*cough*.. BP).
-

Don't worry, until someone mentions it, most Americans will have no idea what country GSK hails from; it's just another faceless multinational.

**L1b3rta** · 07-03-12 at 06:55 AM

They deserve 1 million years dungeon.

Adanaliyik · 07-03-12 at 07:15 AM

@L1b3rta: You track these things, so you'd know. There was a multi-national agreement similar to ACTA (it might be ACTA) that also has to do with protecting the quality standards of food worldwide.

The thing is, the quality standards would mean use of only "brand name" additives, and "legal" hybrid seeds. Meaning that the drug companies (of which GSK was one) and companies like Monsanto would control all the food and drugs in the world, and generic drugs, generic supplements, and small farm foods would become illegal.

Do you know what proposed agreement I'm talking about? We concentrate so much on the Internet parts of these things, that we miss some things that are even bigger in these agreements...

:)

**PhoenixBSD** · 07-03-12 at 07:37 AM

Here's the real problem (courtesy of Wikipedia)...

"GSK was formed in 2000 by the merger of GlaxoWellcome plc (formed from the acquisition of Wellcome plc by Glaxo plc), and SmithKline Beecham plc (formed from the merger of Beecham plc and SmithKline Beckman Corporation)."

"It [GSK] is the world's fourth-largest pharmaceutical company measured by 2009 prescription drug sales..."

These gigantic monopolistic corporations, growing ever larger and larger via mergers and acquisitions of their competitors, has never been a good thing for any of us. This is but just one example of how we've been getting ripped off and will continue to be until our glorious elected representatives finally see the light and break up these ultra-greedy Goliaths.

**FirtY** · 07-03-12 at 09:29 AM

No single company or corporation should have sway over economies or governments. The principle is as simple as that.

**L1b3rta** · 07-03-12 at 09:36 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Adanaliyik

@L1b3rta: You track these things, so you'd know. There was a multi-national agreement similar to ACTA (it might be ACTA) that also has to do with protecting the quality standards of food worldwide.

The thing is, the quality standards would mean use of only "brand name" additives, and "legal" hybrid seeds. Meaning that the drug companies (of which GSK was one) and companies like Monsanto would control all the food and drugs in the world, and generic drugs, generic supplements, and small farm foods would become illegal.

Do you know what proposed agreement I'm talking about? We concentrate so much on the Internet parts of these things, that we miss some things that are even bigger in these agreements...

:)

I think you're referring to TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership). See link: Latest threat: TPP (ACTA 2.0)
Though TPP is only an agreement in process of the following nations:

07-02-12 at 02:01 PM	#5
Valid_Username Expert Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: UK Posts: 720	Quote: "The sales force bribed physicians to prescribe GSK products using every imaginable form of high-priced entertainment, from Hawaiian vacations [and] paying doctors millions of dollars to go on speaking tours, to tickets to Madonna concerts," said US attorney Carmin Ortiz. We joke about this kind of stuff, but it really goes on.... bastards!! The doctors involved should also be beaten to death by an angry mob. No doubt, because it's a 'British' company, we'll be in the dog house again (cough.. BP). - Last edited by Valid_Username; 07-02-12 at 02:13 PM.

07-02-12 at 01:50 PM	#2
dormin Illuminati Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: 3rd Rock Posts: 2,291	Wow. They should take the whole company down sell all assets and divide the cash up. That would teach all the big boys not to mess around.

07-02-12 at 01:53 PM	#3
Omega_Prime Autobot Supreme Commander Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 3,553	Not bad... now go after the movie industry for fraud too

07-02-12 at 01:54 PM	#4
cazmajor Elite Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 1,630	.....Sickening. People should go to prison for this, I wonder how much was made from the selling of those drugs?

07-02-12 at 02:03 PM	#6
jjesso1993 Apprentice Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 387	do more, feel better, live longer there promise. They should be shut down and treated the same as drug dealers on the streets.

07-02-12 at 04:29 PM	#7
MacFalic Sleeps with Kuune Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Land of Cunning Sheep Posts: 836	@Valid_Username It should be no great surprise. The same 'bribery' and 'perks' are part of a company's advertising account. Meaning these are actually scheduled and pre-funded! I experienced this in the electronic industry, from vendors.(not taken)(no really) Radio stations are given kickbacks and various inducements to promote\play certain albums\tracks. After I had lost almost everything I owned, I relied on Doctor's generosity by using drugs from the 'sample room'(yes room). They never seemed to run out of free samples. Which was lucky as Hell while the condition\situation lasted.

07-02-12 at 07:14 PM	#8
elvisfan Newcomer Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 74	Meanwhile, the lobbyists are busy pressuring Congress to pass legislation to ensure that this kind of fine never happens again. The poor patients that were affected won't see a dime, just the governmnet. The lower-level employees will probably see a few layoffs to cover the tax deductible legal expenses. The lawyers get rich, and the CEOs who promoted the fraud escape all liability and might even get a raise in pay. American Justice.

07-02-12 at 10:48 PM	#9
Noledox Bad command or file name Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Terra Incognita Posts: 2,709	Quote: Originally Posted by Valid_Username We joke about this kind of stuff, but it really goes on.... bastards!! The doctors involved should also be beaten to death by an angry mob. No doubt, because it's a 'British' company, we'll be in the dog house again (cough.. BP). - Don't worry, until someone mentions it, most Americans will have no idea what country GSK hails from; it's just another faceless multinational.

07-03-12 at 06:55 AM	#10
L1b3rta Guru Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 5,981	They deserve 1 million years dungeon.

07-03-12 at 07:15 AM	#11
Adanaliyik Master Join Date: May 2012 Location: Turkey Posts: 1,162	@L1b3rta: You track these things, so you'd know. There was a multi-national agreement similar to ACTA (it might be ACTA) that also has to do with protecting the quality standards of food worldwide. The thing is, the quality standards would mean use of only "brand name" additives, and "legal" hybrid seeds. Meaning that the drug companies (of which GSK was one) and companies like Monsanto would control all the food and drugs in the world, and generic drugs, generic supplements, and small farm foods would become illegal. Do you know what proposed agreement I'm talking about? We concentrate so much on the Internet parts of these things, that we miss some things that are even bigger in these agreements... :)

07-03-12 at 07:37 AM	#12
PhoenixBSD Luminiferous Ether Sailor Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Thailand Posts: 1,598	Here's the real problem (courtesy of Wikipedia)... "GSK was formed in 2000 by the merger of GlaxoWellcome plc (formed from the acquisition of Wellcome plc by Glaxo plc), and SmithKline Beecham plc (formed from the merger of Beecham plc and SmithKline Beckman Corporation)." "It [GSK] is the world's fourth-largest pharmaceutical company measured by 2009 prescription drug sales..." These gigantic monopolistic corporations, growing ever larger and larger via mergers and acquisitions of their competitors, has never been a good thing for any of us. This is but just one example of how we've been getting ripped off and will continue to be until our glorious elected representatives finally see the light and break up these ultra-greedy Goliaths.

07-03-12 at 09:29 AM	#13
FirtY Elder Join Date: May 2009 Location: Eire Posts: 2,948	No single company or corporation should have sway over economies or governments. The principle is as simple as that.

07-03-12 at 09:36 AM	#14
L1b3rta Guru Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 5,981	Quote: Originally Posted by Adanaliyik @L1b3rta: You track these things, so you'd know. There was a multi-national agreement similar to ACTA (it might be ACTA) that also has to do with protecting the quality standards of food worldwide. The thing is, the quality standards would mean use of only "brand name" additives, and "legal" hybrid seeds. Meaning that the drug companies (of which GSK was one) and companies like Monsanto would control all the food and drugs in the world, and generic drugs, generic supplements, and small farm foods would become illegal. Do you know what proposed agreement I'm talking about? We concentrate so much on the Internet parts of these things, that we miss some things that are even bigger in these agreements... :) I think you're referring to TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership). See link: Latest threat: TPP (ACTA 2.0) Though TPP is only an agreement in process of the following nations: