Ex-Pfizerite indicted in off-label case

More evidence that the cover-up could be more lethal than the crime: A former Pfizer district sales manager has now been indicted for obstructing justice in connection with a 2004 off-label marketing investigation. The manager, Thomas Farina, allegedly deleted and otherwise tampered with documents on his computer, and told sales reps who reported to him to do the same. The indictment states that Farina messed with the evidence when he knew Pfizer was under investigation--and he'd been specifically told by the company to keep all related documents.

Issued by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Massachusetts, the indictment says Farina would face up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each of the four counts of obstruction. A Pfizer spokesperson told Pharmalot that the company terminated Farina and some other employees several years ago and reported them to the Justice Department.

Meanwhile, the off-label marketing investigation? It's ongoing. And the indictment doesn't name the product in question; it calls the med X-Drug.

- see the news release [1] from the U.S. Attorney
- read the indictment [2] (.pdf)
- check out the coverage [3] at Pharmalot

ALSO: Pfizer's general counsel Allen Waxman is stepping down; he's been GC since CEO Jeffrey Kindler took over in 2006. He'll remain outside counsel during the transition period, and SVP David Reid will take on Waxman's internal duties on an interim basis. Release [4] | Item [5]

Related Articles:
Rep decries off-label marketing "loophole." Report [6]
Should off-label journal promos be OK? Report [7]