Tuesday, August 7, 2012

J&J Faces New Marketing Probes As Risperdal Settlement Nears

Fierce Pharma has;
J&J Faces New Marketing Probes As Risperdal Settlement Nears

Doribax antibiotic, sinus device draw questions from Justice Department

Just as Johnson & Johnson ($JNJ) is wrapping up its long-running Risperdal marketing investigation, the feds are eyeing its promotions for another drug: its antibiotic Doribax. The U.S. Justice Department demanded Doribax marketing information in April, J&J disclosed in its latest filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

As Dow Jones reports, J&J also faces inquiries from the Massachusetts U.S. Attorney's Office, which wants to know more about its Acclarent unit's device marketing. Investigators are interested in the Relieva Stratus MicroFlow Spacer, used to treat sinus problems, and related products, J&J's filing notes.
Like Risperdal, Doribax has been tagged with safety questions. J&J notified doctors earlier this year that the drug didn't work as well in pneumonia patients as another treatment, and that Doribax patients in that trial were more likely to die. The drug isn't approved as a pneumonia treatment; its FDA-approved indications are in urinary-tract and abdominal infections.

The new scrutiny comes as J&J and the Justice Department put the finishing touches on their Risperdal marketing settlement. In that same SEC filing, J&J noted that it had reached an agreement in principle to wrap up the Risperdal claims. Marketing allegations related to two other drugs--the antipsychotic drug Invega and the heart drug Natrecor--would also be included. The deal has yet to be finalized, however, and J&J didn't put a dollar figure on it. Sources have said it could reach $2.2 billion.
- read the Dow Jones piece

Related Articles:
J&J acknowledges what everyone knows, it settled with DoJ
J&J appeals $1.2B Risperdal marketing fine
FDA wants more information on Doribax
FDA won't expand Doribax use now


Thank You Fierce Healthcare and Ms Staton

And for those wanting to know Who didn't see this coming, you might's well start with J&J's Board of Directors:

http://www.investor.jnj.com/governance/board.cfm



And we'd like to take this moment to honor those Americans who made it all possible by giving their lives to wipe out the shit stain of Nazi Political Illnesses:


 so that your Janssen Unit could reinstitute them as Health Care.




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