The world’s largest research-based pharmaceutical company, Pfizer, recently agreed to settle with the US Justice Department against the lawsuit filed against them for ilegally marketing their drugs.

The settlement, amounting to $2.3 Billion, is the largest national settlement in US history!

“Pfizer promoted the sale of Bextra for several uses and dosages that the FDA specifically declined to approve due to safety concerns”, the Justice Department said in a press release.

In 2005, Pfizer ignored an FDA warning letter to stop marketing and promoting their drug called Zyvox as clinically superior over the less expensive generic brand Vancomycin. Pfizer also defrauded federal taxpayers by marketing Zyvox off-label.

The $2.3 billion settlement sum of money will go to Medicare, Medicaid, the Tricare health plan of the US military and other government insurance programs.

Out of the $2.3 billion settlement, the State of Nevada will receive $2.5 million, the State of Maine will receive nearly $1.5 million, the State of Florida will receive around $58.2 million, the State of Idaho will receive $658,000, and several other states will receive a pie of the total settlement money.

The rest of the lawsuit against Pfizer involves charges of kickbacks, wherein doctors would be paid by Pfizer to promote their drugs which is definitely against the US Federal Law.

The law firm of Sheller, P.C. is instrumental in this $2.3 billion settlement by Pfizer.

This is a clear indication that the US Government works for better protection of its local citizens against abusive companies.