OIG

Seven years after the biggest drug safety scandal since thalidomide was found to cause birth defects, Merck and the Justice Department announced a nearly $1 billion settlement of litigation over Vioxx, the Cox-2 pain drug found to cause strokes and heart attacks.

Seven large pharmas filed a citizen petition with FDA asking for guidance on communication about off-label uses for products.

AstraZeneca agreed to pay $520 million and enter a five-year Corporate Integrity Agreement to settle a federal case against the company for off-label marketing of Seroquel, the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services' Healthcare Enforcement Action Team announced.