News Summary: NJ drugmaker to pay $45M in fines
News Summary: NJ drugmaker Par Pharmaceutical admits improperly pushing AIDS drug on elderly
ADMITTING GUILT: Executives of drugmaker Par Pharmaceutical Cos. pleaded guilty Tuesday to criminal misbranding, for years of improperly marketing its weight-gain drug for frail nursing home and hospice patients vulnerable to its potentially deadly side effects. The drug, Megace ES, is approved only for AIDS patients.
FINANCIAL PENALTY: The Woodcliff Lake, N.J., company will pay a total of $45 million to resolve criminal and civil charges in the case. It also agreed to increased government monitoring.
BACK STORY: The Justice Department started investigating after four whistleblowers went to attorneys with allegations about misconduct by Par's sales force for the drug.