Nevada nets nearly $1 million in drug company settlement

CARSON CITY — Nevada will receive nearly $1 million from a large pharmaceutical company to settle claims of deceptive marketing, the attorney general's office announced Wednesday. Nevada is one of 49 states and the District of Columbia that will share in the $71 million settlement with Amgen Inc.

The agreement resolved allegations that the company unlawfully promoted the drugs Aranesp and Enbrel used to treat anemia and plaque psoriasis, respectively.

A complaint was filed against Amgen for marketing the two drugs using false information.

Nevada's share will be $940,000.

"Large pharmaceutical companies have a responsibility to accurately promote their medications," Attorney General Adam Laxalt said in a statement. "To do otherwise could jeopardize the health and well-being of Nevada's consumers.

"This settlement holds Amgen accountable for its products as well as for the harm to the individuals who use them."

The complaint and consent judgment alleges that Amgen violated state consumer protection laws by promoting Aranesp for anemia caused by cancer without approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or having reliable scientific evident to support the claim.

It further alleged the company promoted Enbrel for mild plaque psoriasis even though the drug is only approved by the FDA to promote chronic moderate to severe cases of the skin disease.

The settlement also requires Amgen to reform its marketing and promotional practices, including not making false or deceptive claims in promoting the drugs, the attorney general's office said.

Contact Sandra Chereb at schereb@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901. Find her on Twitter: @SandraChereb.