Pfizer Ordered to Pay $38M to Calif. Nonprofit
Jurors in Northern California have said drugmaker Pfizer should pay $38 million to a Bay Area medical research nonprofit for stealing trade secrets to develop a pain relief drug.
The verdict comes in the 2004 case filed by the San Bruno, Calif.-based nonprofit Ischemia Research and Education Foundation, the Associated Press reports. The nonprofit claims Pfizer asked to use the foundation’s database for clinical trials of the arthritis drug Bextra, which was eventually taken off the market.
At issue was a dispute over terms of use for the database. Pfizer struck a side deal with a statistician at the foundation, who provided the data without approval, the suit alleged.
Pfizer plans to appeal the verdict. In a statement Tuesday, Pfizer said, “The company stands by the belief that its conduct was proper. Pfizer continues to believe that it was unjustly caught in a crossfire between (the foundation) and one of its former employees.”
Punitive damages remain on the table and could increase the verdict to more than $120 million, according to Mark Geragos, who represents the foundation.
Post-trial motions are set to be heard on Jan. 16.
Also see:
The Recorder: “Pfizer Hit With $38 Million Jury Verdict in IP Case “
