In an attempt to maximize profits, GSK unlawfully promoted drugs that were not approved by the FDA for alternative uses, hid dangerous results from the government and consumers, and bribed physicians into using these drugs whenever possible even when not medically necessary.
Among some of the drugs that were improperly marketed are the widely used antidepressants Paxil and Wellbutrin. Wellbutrin was marketed by GlaxoSmithKline from 1999- 2003 for alternative uses such as sexual dysfunction, substance addiction, ADHD and weight loss -- treatment for which the FDA had not been approved Wellbutrin. The adult approved antidepressant. Similarly, Paxil, an adult-approved antidepressant, was marketed by GSK from 1998-2003, representing its safe use by children and adolescents, though the FDA never approved it. GlaxoSmithKline also failed to report safety problems with its popular diabetes drug, Avandia, to the government from 2001 to 2007. Avandia has been banned in Europe and restricted in the U.S. after it was found to greatly increase the risk of heart attack and congestive heart failure. Advair was promoted by GSK as therapy for mild asthma with misleading claims. The anti-epileptic medication Lamictal was marketed for off-label psychiatric uses and pain management. Certain forms of Zofran were promoted to treat “morning sickness” in pregnant women even though it was only approved for post operative nausea.
"GSK's sales force bribed physicians to prescribe GSK products using every imaginable form of high priced entertainment, from Hawaiian vacations to paying doctors millions of dollars to go on speaking tours, to a European pheasant hunt, to tickets to Madonna concerts, and this is just to name a few," said Carmin M. Ortiz, U.S. attorney in Massachusetts.
Contact The Glassman Law Firm if you have suffered the effects of any of these drugs. The Glassman Law Firm has experience and success in obtaining substantial settlements when dealing with a large drug company’s settlement fund. As in the instance of the Dalkon Shield. The Dalkon Shield IUD, which was marketed by the A.H. Robins Company, was found to cause severe injury to a large percentage of its users. This subsequently lead to lawsuits in which juries awarded millions of dollars in compensation. Approximately 2.8 million women used this IUD as a result of the aggressive marketing of the Dalkon Shield despite the manufacturer’s awareness of safety issues. Through the representation of The Glassman Law Firm, you will be contributing the safety of your community by not allowing drug companies to misrepresent products that cause injuries to those relying on them to improve heath.
If you or a loved one has suffered loss of employment, serious injury, or death as a result of taking GlaxoSmithKline medications listed below, contact the The Glassman Law Firm.
- Advair
- Avandia
- Flovent
- Imitrex
- Lamictal
- Lotronex
- Paxil
- Valtrex
- Wellbutrin
- Zofran
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