OLYMPIA — Washington’s share of a national settlement with a Chicago-based pharmaceutical company could easily top $7 million, according to a written statement from the Washington State Attorney General’s Office.
In one settlement with Abbott Laboratories, charged with illegally marketing an anti-seizure drug, the state will split $10 million with the federal government. In another settlement, the state will receive more than $2 million as its share of a multi-state Medicaid fraud case against the company.
In all, Abbott will pay $100 million in total costs in the settlement related to the drug Depakote, which was approved for treatment of seizure disorders and symptoms of manic depression. Abbott was charged with falsely marketing the drug for uses not approved by the Food and Drug Administration, such as treating schizophrenia and agitation associated with dementia.
