None of which comes as news, given previous revelations. Documents unsealed as part of GlaxoSmithKline鈥檚 settlement with federal prosecutors, however, offer a rare look at the details. to settle allegations it promoted drugs for unapproved uses, marketing Paxil for children鈥檚 depression; Wellbutrin for obesity, sexual dysfunction and attention deficit; and Advair as a first-line treatment for asthma.
According to theand exhibits, both of which were unsealed Monday:
鈥� Through its public relations firm, in 1999 Glaxo paid Dr. Drew Pinsky (, Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew) $275,000 to promote Wellbutrin 鈥渋n settings where it did not appear that Dr. Pinsky was speaking for鈥� Glaxo.
鈥� On a radio show Pinsky said the active substance in Wellbutrin 鈥渃ould explain a woman suddenly having 60 orgasms in one night鈥� even though Wellbutrin was approved to treat only major depression, the complaint said. (Pinsky and his publicist did not respond to requests for comment.)
鈥� Glaxo promoted Wellbutrin 鈥渁s what some sales representatives referred to as 鈥榯he happy, horny, skinny pill,鈥欌�� the complaint said, adding that Glaxo 鈥渄id so knowing that much of the cost of the unapproved, non-medically accepted and/or inappropriate uses would be borne by federal health care programs.鈥�
鈥� In 2000 and 2001, Glaxo flew psychiatrists to resorts such as in Puerto Rico and in Palm Springs, Calif., to promote Paxil for children, even though it was unapproved for that use, the complaint said. 鈥淩esults suggest that the Paxil Forum had a significant impact on Paxil market share in the months after attendance,鈥� a Glaxo memo said.
鈥� Glaxo launched a campaign in 1999 called 鈥淥peration Hustle鈥� to market Wellbutrin for non-FDA approved uses including weight gain and sexual dysfunction in combination with depression, the complaint said.
鈥� The company paid what prosecutors described as kickbacks to doctors in the form of consulting fees, entertainment, travel and 鈥渟ham advisory boards鈥� and then carefully monitored the prescribing habits of physicians receiving largess. A Glaxo memo emphasized that only 鈥淜EY Customers鈥� (high-prescribing doctors) should get free tickets to Boston Bruins and Celtics games.
鈥� 鈥淲hen I asked for the business he laughed,鈥� one Glaxo sales rep said of a doctor whom he had treated to a St. Louis Cardinals baseball game. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 really see the humor in it. How could he think I wouldn鈥檛 ask for the business when I鈥檝e treated his family to a day at the ball park.鈥�
Many of these kinds of payments to doctors will have to be disclosed in the future, thanks to the , included in the 2010 health overhaul, although the details are still being worked out.
On Monday Glaxo CEO Andrew Witty said, 鈥淚 want to express our regret and reiterate that we have learnt from the mistakes that were made.鈥�