Pharma

UCB’s off-label marketing of epilepsy drug Keppra costs $34M fine (Morning Read)

Current medical news from today, including: UCB reaches settlement over off-label marketing of its epilepsy drug Keppra; the Food and Drug Administration warns of higher prostate cancer risks from baldness and prostate drugs; flu shots reach an all time high; and UCLA partners with Roche for stem cell and cancer research.

By Frank Vinluan on June 10, 2011 8:50 am

Current medical news and unique business news for anyone who cares about the healthcare industry.

UCB fined for off-label use: Belgian drug company UCB must pay more than $34 million in fines after pleading guilty to marketing its blockbuster epilepsy drug Keppra for an off-label use. UCB had promoted the drug for treating migraines, an unapproved indication for the product. Keppra is UCB’s top-selling product generating more than $1.37 billion in 2010 revenue, according to Bloomberg News.

New prostate cancer risk? The FDA warns that some drugs to treat the prostate and baldness may raise the risk of the most serious form of prostate cancer. But Forbes checked with American Medical Society Chief Medical Officer Otis Brawley, a physician who treats prostate cancer. Brawley disagrees.

Flu shots reach all time high: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that more people got flu shots in the last year than ever before, reports MedPage today.

Pharma/university partnership: Roche enters a partnership with UCLA on stem cell and cancer research.

Dealflow: Med dev company Access Scientific raises $10 million led by private equity firm CAC; CAS Medical Systems raises $15 million to develop its high-tech blood monitors.