Mis-sold drug costs Abbott US$1.6bn

摘要

THE US Department of Justice has fined Abbott Laboratories a total of US$1.6bn for mis-selling its neurological drug Depakote.The fine is thought to be the largest ever imposed for a single drug. Depakote is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of epileptic seizures, bipolar mania and the prevention of migraines, but Abbott has also been promoting the drug for the treatment ofschizophreniaand dementia, so-called 'off-label uses! The company had a sales team dedicated to visiting nursing homes across the US.