Navigation Links
Former InterMune CEO W. Scott Harkonen Indicted for Wire Fraud and FDA Violations
Date:3/18/2008

SAN FRANCISCO, March 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- W. Scott Harkonen, M.D., the former CEO of InterMune Inc., was indicted on wire fraud and felony Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act charges for his role in the creation and dissemination of false and misleading information about the efficacy of InterMune's drug Actimmune (Interferon gamma-1b) as a treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), the Justice Department announced today.

The indictment alleges that Harkonen, a medical doctor, was the chief executive officer of InterMune from February 1998 through June 30, 2003, and a member of InterMune's board of directors from February 1998 through September 2003. Under Harkonen's direction, InterMune marketed and sold Actimmune to treat IPF, a fatal disease, despite the fact that the drug was not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a safe and effective treatment.

According to the indictment, Harkonen promoted and caused the promotion by InterMune of Actimmune as a safe and effective treatment for IPF, despite the lack of FDA approval, in order to sell more Actimmune and to generate revenues and profits from sales of the pharmaceutical for InterMune. The cost of Actimmune for one IPF patient for one year was approximately $50,000 and the vast majority of the company's sales of Actimmune were for the unapproved, off-label use of treating IPF.

The indictment further states that Harkonen devised a scheme to induce doctors to prescribe, and patients to take, Actimmune to treat IPF. As part of that scheme to defraud, on Aug. 28, 2002, InterMune issued a press release publicly announcing the results of a clinical trial of Actimmune for the treatment of IPF. Although the clinical trial in fact failed, Harkonen caused the issuance and distribution of a false and misleading press release to portray that the results of the trial established that Actimmune helped IPF patients live longer. Specifically, the press release's headline
'/>"/>

SOURCE U.S. Department of Justice
Copyright©2008 PR Newswire.
All rights reserved

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2 3 4

Related medicine news :

1. Cardinal Health Names Former Acting Deputy U.S. Attorney General Craig S. Morford to Chief Compliance Officer Post
2. Former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker To Join Board of Directors of Still River Systems
3. Thomas Farina, Former Pharmaceutical Company District Manager, Charged With Obstruction of Justice
4. Former Blue Cross/Blue Shield Account Manager Sentenced for Health Care Fraud Scheme, Tax Evasion
5. Lilly and Partners In Health, Brigham and Womens Hospital Team Up to Fight MDR-TB in Former Soviet Republics
6. Former Biolase CEO & EVP Launch Technology4Medicine
7. Nyer Medical Group Completes Acquisition of Minority Interest in Pharmacy Chain Subsidiary; Former Minority Shareholders Invest in Nyer Medical Group and Sign 3-Year Employment Agreements
8. OrthoSynetics(TM) Applauds SEC Suit Against Former Company Management
9. Local VA Performers Hold February 15 Benefit to Reduce $10,000 in Medical Bills for Former VCU Student Kellie Brown
10. Herley Industries Announces the Passing of Its Former President
11. Former Navy Surgeon General Is Among Three New Accomplished TriWest Advisory Board Members
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
(Date:5/20/2013)... The automated external defibrillator market ... categories - semi-automated and fully automated defibrillators. Based ... categories, namely, hospitals, pre-hospital, public access, alternate care, ... Automated external defibrillators play an important role in ... Considering the life-saving potential of AEDs, legislations requiring ...
(Date:5/20/2013)... Recent environmental concerns have helped ... and sustainable inputs in packaging products. As such, ... promote the use of sustainable materials, thereby driving ... industry . “Tax subsidies and operating cost savings ... analyst Deonta Smith. “For example, many packaging product ...
(Date:5/20/2013)... In order to prepare for the long hot ... DrSmartphoneMD launched an article series to raise awareness about skincare ... launched with the precautions that need to be taken ... are not one of the 3.5 million cases of skin ... of all skin cancer cases are associated with exposure to ...
(Date:5/20/2013)... Parker Waichman LLP, a national law firm ... defective drugs, has filed a lawsuit on behalf of ... the diabetes drug medication Actos (pioglitazone) caused bladder ... 2013, in the U.S. District Court for the Western ... one of thousands of cases pending in the Actos ...
(Date:5/20/2013)... 20, 2013 Mirena IUD lawsuit ... multidistrict litigation recently established in U.S. District Court, Southern ... According to court records, the litigation’s first Status Conference ... to Plaintiff’s leadership positions were discussed. So far, ... Southern District of New York, all of which allege ...
Breaking Medicine News(10 mins):Health News:North America Leads Automated External Defibrillator Market (AED), Says New Research Report at ReportsnReports.com 2Health News:North America Leads Automated External Defibrillator Market (AED), Says New Research Report at ReportsnReports.com 3Health News:Packaging and Labelling Services in Canada Industry Market Research Report Now Available from IBISWorld 2Health News:Packaging and Labelling Services in Canada Industry Market Research Report Now Available from IBISWorld 3Health News:Combat Skin Cancer In Summer Months 2Health News:Taking Actos for Two Years Caused Bladder Cancer, Alleges Lawsuit Filed by Parker Waichman LLP on Behalf of South Dakota Man 2Health News:Mirena IUD Lawsuit News: Bernstein Liebhard LLP Reports on First Status Conference in Federal Mirena Litigation 2Health News:Mirena IUD Lawsuit News: Bernstein Liebhard LLP Reports on First Status Conference in Federal Mirena Litigation 3
... Security Disability Insurance recipients; time-intensive process of receiving benefits can include ... ... Belleville, Ill. (Vocus) June 25, 2008 -- The number ... benefits continued to grow in 2007. This means more people are ...
... of patients admitted to the hospital have alcohol/drug abuse ... sharply in recent years, according to a study in ... Abuse Treatment (JSAT). , "Our results demonstrated ... and the striking financial costs placed on the hospital, ...
... Richer countries perform most, but safety an issue in ... News) -- About 234 million major surgeries are performed ... in high-income countries than in low-income countries, U.S. researchers ... of Public Health, and his colleagues defined major surgeries ...
... TALLAHASSEE, Fla., June 25 Pharmavite, ... has chosen the on-line consumer-centric,program, LearnSomethingAbout(TM), ... Inc. created the engaging, consumer-oriented multimedia,program ... of national retailers., "LearnSomething shares ...
... Mass., June 25 Cynosure, Inc.,(Nasdaq: CYNO ), ... of,light-based aesthetic treatment systems, today announced the opening of ... Located in the Chao,Yang District of Beijing, the office ... sales and marketing for Cynosure China, the company,s,wholly owned ...
... LCA-Vision Inc. (Nasdaq:,LCAV), a leading provider ... brand, is providing an update on the ... for the company,s services., "Macro-economic conditions ... spending, leading to continued softness in,LasikPlus(R) appointments ...
Cached Medicine News:Health News:SSDI Recipients Ask: When Do I Get My Benefits? 2Health News:SSDI Recipients Ask: When Do I Get My Benefits? 3Health News:Study shows high rates, rising costs of alcohol/drug disorders in hospitalized patients 2Health News:Worldwide Surgery Rates Tied to Economic Status 2Health News:Pharmavite Partners With LearnSomething, Inc. on Consumer Education Program, LearnSomethingAbout(TM) 2Health News:Cynosure Expands Presence in China with the Opening of Sales Office in Beijing 2Health News:LCA-Vision Provides Business Update and Market Review 2Health News:LCA-Vision Provides Business Update and Market Review 3Health News:LCA-Vision Provides Business Update and Market Review 4
(Date:5/20/2013)... , May 20, 2013   Life Technologies Corporation ... its Applied Biosystems™ 3500 Dx and 3500xL Dx Genetic ... Protection against Health Risks in Mexico ... extension of Life Technologies, capabilities to serve the clinical ... with Sanger -based solutions.  ...
(Date:5/20/2013)... -- TNI BioTech, Inc. (OTCQB: TNIB), a biotech company combating ... body,s immune system using patented immunotherapy, announced its common stock ... the ticker symbol "TNIB" commencing May 17, 2013. Investors will ... quotes for TNIB at http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/TNIB/quote . ... BioTech, Inc. stated, "We are very pleased to provide ...
(Date:5/20/2013)... 20, 2013 Decision Resources, one of ... pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that surveyed U.S. ... greater effect on quality of life is among ... high level of subjectivity and variability of tests ... leaders state that it is difficult to differentiate ...
Breaking Medicine Technology:Life Technologies Announces Regulatory Approval of 3500 Dx Series Genetic Analyzers in Mexico 2Life Technologies Announces Regulatory Approval of 3500 Dx Series Genetic Analyzers in Mexico 3TNI BioTech, Inc. Stock to Begin Trading on the OTCQB Marketplace 2TNI BioTech, Inc. Stock to Begin Trading on the OTCQB Marketplace 3For Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Surveyed Pulmonologists Indicate That Improved Effect on Quality of Life is One of the Greatest Unmet Needs 2
... tips eliminate false signals and contamination ... tested, Promega Barrier Tips offer performance ... nucleic acids (PCR(a)), radioactive isotopes, tissue ... serological specimens. , Promega Barrier Tips ...
... Finntip Filters are ideal ... amplification methods, or for ... contamination might occur. They ... DNA/RNA solutions, infectious materials, ...
1000 L, Racked, Filtered, Pre-sterilized, 100 tips/rack Recommended for 500 and 1000 L pipettes....
Inquire...
Medicine Products: