US Attorney's Office requests to join a lawsuit over marketing practices for Pfizer's Rapamune

In a motion filed in a federal court on Tuesday, the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania asked the judge for permission to take over a lawsuit that claims Pfizer's Wyeth unit improperly promoted Rapamune (sirolimus) for unauthorised uses and paid illegal kickbacks to doctors. In its request, the government said it had "good cause to intervene."
The lawsuit was filed by two former Wyeth sales representatives who were responsible for promoting Rapamune, which is approved for the prevention of organ rejection in patients who are receiving kidney transplants. The lawsuit alleges that Wyeth promoted Rapamune for off-label uses, and that company provided cash and other incentives to persuade doctors to promote and prescribe Rapamune, including for off-label uses.
Pfizer previously disclosed that a criminal investigation of Wyeth's promotional practices for Rapamune was being conducted by the US Attorney's Office for the Western District of Oklahoma.

Reference Articles
US seeks to join Pfizer whistleblower lawsuit - (Bloomberg)
DOJ tries to intervene in 'off-label' case against Pfizer - (NASDAQ)
Justice joins whistleblower suit over Wyeth drug - (The Washington Post)

**Published in "First Word"