Drug maker agrees to settle
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Cephalon Inc., a pharmaceuticals manufacturer, agreed Thursday to pay $425 million to settle state and federal claims that the firm had marketed drugs for unapproved uses.
Louisiana receives approximately $1.1 million of that total, according to the state Attorney General’s Office.
In October, the firm pleaded guilty in Pennsylvania to a misdemeanor charge of misbranding the same three drugs — Actiq, Gabitril and Provigil — and agreed to forfeit $10 million to the federal government.
Actiq was approved by the Food and Drug Administration for opioid-tolerant cancer patients, according to court records in Pennsylvania. But federal prosecutors alleged the drug, which carries a risk of addiction, also was marketed for migraine headaches, sickle-cell pain and other conditions.
Gabitril was FDA-approved as a partial treatment for seizures. But federal officials complained it also was marketed to people without epilepsy for treatment of anxiety, insomnia and pain. According to court records in Pennsylvania, some of those people then suffered seizures.
Provigil is FDA-approved for treatment of narcolepsy and other sleep disorders. But federal officials complained it also was marketed to people who complained of fatigue and lack of energy.
Louisiana receives approximately $1.1 million of that total, according to the state Attorney General’s Office.
In October, the firm pleaded guilty in Pennsylvania to a misdemeanor charge of misbranding the same three drugs — Actiq, Gabitril and Provigil — and agreed to forfeit $10 million to the federal government.
Actiq was approved by the Food and Drug Administration for opioid-tolerant cancer patients, according to court records in Pennsylvania. But federal prosecutors alleged the drug, which carries a risk of addiction, also was marketed for migraine headaches, sickle-cell pain and other conditions.
Gabitril was FDA-approved as a partial treatment for seizures. But federal officials complained it also was marketed to people without epilepsy for treatment of anxiety, insomnia and pain. According to court records in Pennsylvania, some of those people then suffered seizures.
Provigil is FDA-approved for treatment of narcolepsy and other sleep disorders. But federal officials complained it also was marketed to people who complained of fatigue and lack of energy.
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