Justice Takes on Abbott for Depakote Off-Label Promotion, Kickbacks

The Justice Department has intervened in a whistle-blower lawsuit accusing Abbott Laboratories of knowingly marketing its antipsychotic Depakote for off-label uses and providing kickbacks to doctors to prescribe the drugs. According to the suit, originally filed in 2008 and unsealed this week at Justice’s request, Abbott created an “elaborate and clandestine” scheme to promote Depakote (divalproex sodium), Depakote ER and Depakote Sprinkles for the treatment of dementia and other behaviors seen in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.
Drug Industry Daily