GlaxoSmithKline, the world’s 4th largest company, pled guilty to fraud and agreed to pay $3 billion dollars to resolve criminal and civil charges against the company. The matter relates to failure to report the safety data of certain prescription drugs, as well as false price reporting. It is the largest payout by a drug company over fraud, and the largest healthcare fraud case to date. James M. Cole, Deputy Attorney General said, “Today’s multi-billion dollar settlement is unprecedented in both size and scope. We are determined to stop practices that jeopardize patients’ health, harm taxpayers, and violate the public trust and this historic action is a clear warning to any company that chooses to break the law.”
Medical News Today, June 2012