Pfizer, the manufacturer of Neurontin, has paid nearly $1 billion to resolve civil and criminal allegations involving illegal “off-label” marketing. This “Pregnancy Category C” drug is not approved during pregnancy. Women who had a baby with a birth defect are now coming forward to seek justice.
Neurontin Class Action Lawsuit Settlements
Nearly $1 billion has been paid to resolve class actions and investigations by the Justice Department involving illegal marketing of Neurontin.
- June 2014 — Pfizer and its Warner-Lambert Co. subsidiary agreed to pay a $325 million settlement to resolve a decade-long class action lawsuit accusing the drug-makers of boosting profits by promoting Neurontin for uses that were not FDA-approved or clinically effective.
- April 2014 — Pfizer agreed to pay a $190 million settlement to resolve a separate class action on behalf of people who purchased Neurontin. The lawsuit accusing the drug-maker of inflating prices by taking aggressive steps to keep cheaper generic versions of the drug off the market.
- May 2004 — The Justice Department announced that Pfizer agreed to pay $430 million to settle civil and criminal allegations that Neurontin was illegally promoted “off-label” for unapproved purposes, including migraine headaches, bipolar disorder, attention deficit, and more.
Birth Defects Linked to Neurontin
- Cleft lip
- Cleft palate
- Heart defects
- Spina bifida
- Limb reduction defects
- Gastrointestinal defects
- Reproductive system defects (hypospadia)
- And more
About Class Actions
When a large number of people need reimbursement for a defective product, class actions make a lot of sense. However, they can also have disadvantages — especially for people with very serious injuries. Members may have to accept high attorneys’ fees, a “low-ball settlement,” and never see their case taken to trial.
Why Our Law Firm is Filing Individual Lawsuits as Opposed to a Neurontin Class Action
When medications can potentially cause birth defects, drug-makers are responsible for explicitly warning pregnant women against taking that medication. Drug-makers who continue to promote a dangerous drug for “off-label” uses while failing to warn about birth defects can be held liable for negligence.