Pfizer Told to Pay $142.1 Million for Neurontin Marketing Fraud

"The jury, which deliberated for two days, found that New York-based Pfizer violated the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO, and California’s Unfair Competition Law. Under RICO, the amount of actual damages found by the jury, $47.36 million, will be tripled."

‘A Triumph’

“This is a triumph for evidence-based medicine over marketing-based medicine,” said Thomas Greene, a Kaiser lawyer.

Hurley said she was shocked by evidence that Pfizer knowingly marketed Neurontin for off-label uses without proof that it was effective.

All of the five jurors interviewed after the verdict said they agreed that Pfizer had demonstrated “a pattern of fraud” in marketing the drug.

“It was clearly a snow job,” said juror Paul Anderson, a technical writer.

“The message, if there was a message, is that they acted in a fraudulent manner,” said Hank Pierotti, foreman of the eight-person jury. “If you’re fraudulent, you deserve to be punished.”