Business

GlaxoSmithKline pleads guilty to health fraud

Posted July 05, 2012 2:06 pm

Associated Press

BOSTON — A federal judge in Boston has signed off an agreement by British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline to pay $3 billion for criminal and civil violations involving 10 drugs that are taken by millions of people.

The company pleaded guilty Thursday in U.S. District Court to promoting popular antidepressants Paxil and Wellbutrin for unapproved uses.

The company also pleaded guilty to failing to report to the government some safety problems with Avandia. The diabetes drug was restricted in the U.S. and banned in Europe after it was found in 2007 to sharply increase the risks of heart attacks and congestive heart failure.

It is the largest health care fraud settlement in U.S. history.

Lawyers for the company and federal officials declined comment after Thursday’s hearing.

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