In 2011, the Health and Human Services Agency sent a letter to 83-year-old Forest Labs CEO Howard Solomon, announcing it would henceforth refuse to do business with him. What earned Mr. Solomon the blackball? Well, nothing that he did -- as admitted even by HHS. Forest Labs entered into a federal plea agreement in September over misconduct in its marketing of antidepressants Celexa and Lexapro. The allegations were among a rash of government suits claiming that marketing to doctors common among drug companies amounted to fraud against Medicare and Medicaid.
Do you believe Pharmacuetical Companies cross the ethical line in marketing their products to medical students and practicing physicians? What marketing activities do you find unethical?