Feds Accuse Celexa, Lexapro Maker Of Kickbacks To Docs, Illegal Marketing For Kids

Straight from Reuters:

"The United States accused Forest Laboratories of inappropriately marketing the drugs Celexa and Lexapro for children and paying kickbacks to pediatricians who prescribe the drugs, the Justice Department said on Wednesday.

"Prosecutors said the antidepressant Celexa was no more effective than a placebo when taken by children or teenagers, and, in fact, more patients taking Celexa reported suicidal thoughts or attempted suicide."

From the DOJ itself:

"The Complaint alleges that a double-blind, placebo-controlled, pediatric trial found Celexa no more effective than the placebo for pediatric use and that, in the study, more patients taking Celexa attempted suicide or reported suicidal thoughts than those in the group taking the placebo. The negative efficacy data led the FDA to deny Forest’s request to approve Celexa for pediatric use. It is further alleged that, despite the FDA’s denial of a pediatric indication, Forest actively promoted pediatric use of the drugs and misled physicians and the public by failing to disclose the results of the negative study. The same study was among those later considered by the FDA when it mandated that Forest add a "black box" warning to both the Celexa and Lexapro labels.

"The Complaint alleges that Forest sought to induce physicians and others to prescribe Celexa and Lexapro by providing them with various forms of illegal remuneration, including cash payments disguised as grants or consulting fees, expensive meals and lavish entertainment and other valuable goods and services, all in violation of the federal anti-kickback statute."

Oh, my, a federal agency admitting suicide and suicidality around SSRIs and alleging kick backs to doctors? Someone tell the FDA.

All joking aside, this is very serious stuff that's just breaking now and I'll hope to get more detail on it soon.