SAINT PAUL, Minn. (Legal Newsline) - Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson announced Wednesday that the state would recover $1.7 million from a multi-state settlement with Abbott Laboratories to resolve allegations that Abbott marketed a drug for non-approved uses.
Abbott Laboratories allegedly marketed its drug Depakote for uses that were not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Depakote was FDA-approved to treat seizure disorders, prophylaxis of migraines and mania associated with bipolar disorder. Abbott Laboratories allegedly marketed the drug to treat other conditions, like autism, attention deficit disorder, alcohol and drug withdrawal, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety and depression, among other conditions.
Minnesota and other states sued Abbott Laboratories for the allegedly off-line marketing of Depakote. The states obtained money from Abbott Laboratories through a settlement agreement and the funds may be distributed as restitution.
Swanson's office is reaching out to hospitals and physicians to determine which patients used Depakote for conditions not approved by the FDA. Such patients may be eligible for payments from the $1.7 million restitution fund.
Minn. AG announces $1.7 million in funds from multi-state agreement with Abbott Laboratories
