M.D. pilot made off-label Pfizer rounds

A penchant for helicopters characterizes forensic psychiatrist Neil Kaye, M.D., a prominent player in the recent $2.3 billion Pfizer off-label marketing settlement.

According to Bnet, high-roller Kaye allegedly received $4,000 a day to promote Geodon, an antipsychotic drug, in addition to expense reimbursement for use of his own helicopter to get to off-label speaking events. Portions of Kaye's Geodon materials were distributed to sales reps, according to whistleblower Mark Westlock. 

The charges come from the whistleblower lawsuit that was part of the $2.3 billion Bextra settlement, brought by Westlock, a Pfizer sales rep who was forced out in 2007, and others. Pfizer acknowledges "certain improper actions related to past promotions of Bextra and Zyvox," but denies all other allegations, the Bnet report says.

As reported earlier, the settlement includes improper marketing activities related to arthritis medication Bextra, Geodon, antibiotic Zyvox and epilepsy remedy Lyrica. Westlock and five other whistleblowers will receive more than $102 million in the recovery, the DOJ said.

- here's the Bnet article

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