Abbott Labs to pay $700M in off-label case

A federal judge in Virginia ordered Abbott Laboratories to pay $700 million in fines and fees related to off-label marketing of the drug Depakote. The pharmaceutical giant pleaded guilty to charges of marketing the drug for uses not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Judge Samuel Wilson of the Western District of Virginia announced the sentencing, which included a $500 million criminal fine, plus $1.5 million to be given to the Virginia Medical Fraud Control Unit and $198.5 million to be forfeited by the company. Abbott Labs will also be put on probation for five years, the U.S. Justice Department said.