BMS Pays $19.5M in Off-Label Promotion Settlement

Bristol-Myers Squibb will shell out $19.5 million to settle a multi-state lawsuit for alleged off-label promotion of Abilify.

Abilify, an antipsychotic prescription drug used to treat schizophrenia, was originally approved by FDA in 2002. BMS was accused of promoting Abilify for unapproved use in pediatric and elderly patients with symptoms consistent with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.  

Forty-two states and the District of Columbia were included in the settlement.