GlaxoSmithKline will pay a $750 million penalty to settle civil and criminal charges alleging it knowingly sold contaminated products, the New York Times reports.
The company sold 20 drugs with uncertain safety, including Avandia (rosiglitazone), Bactroban (mupirocin), Coreg (carvedilol), Paxil (paroxetine), and Tagamet (cimetidine).
Sent to a large Puerto Rico plant to fix problems cited by the FDA, a whistle-blower discovered contamination in the plant's water system and a faulty air system that permitted cross-contamination, according to the Times. In addition, the plant could not guarantee the sterility of intravenous cancer drugs, and different-strength pills were stored in the same bottles. The whistle-blower recommended drug recalls, but the company declined to issue them.
The company closed the plant in 2009.
New York Times story (Free)
GlaxoSmithKline news release (Free)
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