Scios, a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary, pled guilty on Thursday for falsely marketing Natrecor, a heart failure drug, according to recent news sources.
Scios was charged with a misdemeanor violation of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. The U.S. has also sued Scios in a related case under the False Claims Act in California. Scios will pay a criminal fine of $85 million.
Natrecor was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2001 for those with acutely decompensated congestive heart failure who experience shortness of breath when at rest or at minimal activity.
Scios has admitted having the intention of also using the drug for chronic (non-acute) instances of congestive heart failure, which was not approved by the FDA.
As a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, I urge anyone taking medication to be extremely careful. If you or someone you care about has been injured by a drug and the side effects of that drug, or feel the side effects were not made clear, or believe that the drug was falsely marketed, it is in your best interest to speak with a personal injury attorney as soon as possible in order to discuss the legal options that are available to you or your loved one.