March 24, 2008

The Legal Intelligencer reports that a Philadelphia judge has held that if Pfizer illegally promoted Neurontin for off-label uses (readers of POL know that "off-label" (non-approved by FDA) use of prescription drugs is both common and indeed life-saving -- but manufacturers may not promote such use), they must reimburse members of a plaintiffs' class who purchased gabapentin, the generic form of Neurontin, made by manufacturers other than Pfizer. An interesting decision, and also an additional stretch of causation here, a bit as if Ford encouraged "needless" purchase of its vehicles and is liable to reimburse Joe, who bought a Chrysler...