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Business as Usual: U.S. drug firm penalized $300M for criminal actions

Forest Pharmaceuticals promoted the use of the antidepressant Celexa to children when it was only approved for use by adults. Celexa and other similar drugs have been linked to suicide and suicidal thoughts in children.
Forest Pharmaceuticals promoted the use of the antidepressant Celexa to children when it was only approved for use by adults. Celexa and other similar drugs have been linked to suicide and suicidal thoughts in children. (CBC)


''A major U.S. drug company, Forest Pharmaceuticals, has agreed to plead guilty to three charges related to selling an unapproved drug, promoting an antidepressant to children and obstructing federal agents.

The company is facing fines and criminal penalties of over $300 million.

The charges date back more than 10 years when Forest was promoting its antidepressant, Celexa, for pediatric use when it was only approved for use in adults. Celexa is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. In some children and teens it's been linked to suicide and suicidal thoughts.

Forest was also convicted of marketing its thyroid drug Levothroid without getting FDA approval. When the company was ordered to stop selling the drug in 2003, it increased production rather than scaling down. It also ignored a subsequent warning letter.'



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