R.I. to receive $1.2M from suit with GlaxoSmithKline

By PBN Staff
Twitter: @ProvBusNews

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island is set to receive $1.24 million as part of a lawsuit against GlaxoSmithKline LLC over deceptive marketing practices concerning the diabetes drug Avandia, R.I. Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin announced Thursday.

Rhode Island’s $1.2 million is part of a $90 million consent judgement in a case between the company and 38 states to resolve allegations that GlaxoSmithKline unlawfully promoted Avandia.

It was alleged that the company engaged in “unfair and deceptive practices” during its advertising by misrepresenting Avandia’s cardiovascular risks and safety profile.

“Time and time again, pharmaceutical companies ignore consumer protection laws, make claims not supported by clinical experience, and misrepresent information, all in the name of racking up steep profits,” Kilmartin said in a statement.

As part of the consent judgment, GlaxoSmithKline agreed to reform how it markets and promotes Avandia. Under the settlement, the company may not: make false, misleading or deceptive claims about any diabetes drug, make comparative safety claims unsupported by evidence or clinical experience, present invalid information, promote investigational drugs or misuse statistics to misrepresent the nature, applicability or significant of clinical trial.

Under the consent judgement, the company must adhere to the following terms for at least eight years:

• GSK must post summaries of all GSK-sponsored observational studies or meta-analyses conducted by GSK that are designed to inform the effective, safe, and/or appropriate use of its diabetes drugs;

• GSK shall post summaries of GSK-sponsored clinical trials of diabetes products within eight months of the primary completion date;

• GSK shall register and post all GSK-sponsored clinical trials as required by federal law; and

• GSK shall comply with the ICMJE Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts submitted to Biomedical Journals.