AG Says Arkansas To Get $1 Million In Drug Suit Settlement

Attorney General Dustin McDaniel announced a settlement with Pfizer Inc. to resolve allegations that the drug company unlawfully promoted its drugs Zyvox and Lyrica.

The resolution, which includes 33 other states, amounts to a $42.9 million settlement of which Arkansas will receive $945,406.

McDaniel and other attorneys general alleged that Pfizer violated state law by deceptively marketing both drugs to Arkansas medical providers. Pfizer is alleged to have made misleading and unsubstantiated claims about the benefits of Zyvox over a similar antibiotic. Moreover, McDaniel alleged that Pfizer illegally promoted Lyrica for off-label uses.

“Pharmaceutical companies are required to appropriately and legally promote their drugs to consumers,” McDaniel said. “When they fail to do so, our office will pursue them for their violations and hold them accountable.”

As a result of the settlement, Pfizer agreed to reform how it markets Zyvox and Lyrica. The pharmaceutical manufacturer is prohibited from making false, misleading or deceptive claims when comparing the effectiveness of Zyvox to the drug vancomycin, and it is also prohibited from promoting any Pfizer product for off-label uses.