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PHARMA giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) lost an appeal today against a £37 million fine for paying off potential rivals to prevent them from competing against its “blockbuster” antidepressant.
GSK paid three other pharmaceutical companies more than £50m between 2001 and 2004 to delay the launch of cheaper generic versions of paroxetine, which it sold under the brand name Seroxat.
The firm made more than £130m from Seroxat in 2001 and 2002 alone, at which point Seroxat was the biggest-selling drug across the entire GSK group.
Politicians who continue to welcome contracts with US companies without considering the risks and consequences of total dependency in the years to come are undermining the raison d’etre of the NHS, argues Dr JOHN PUNTIS
ANSELM ELDERGILL examines the government’s proposals to further limit the right of citizens to trial by jury