Ala. Federal Judge Awards Wyeth Summary Judgment on Off-Label Promotion Claim in Cordarone Case

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - An Alabama federal judge has awarded Wyeth summary judgment on claims that its fraudulent off-label promotion of its heart medication Cordarone caused a man's death, finding the plaintiff did not show that the prescribing doctor was influenced by such marketing efforts.

In a Feb. 27 order, Chief Judge Karon O. Bowdre of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama referred to the treating doctor's testimony that he based his decision to prescribe Cordarone on his own training and experience and did not see Wyeth's marketing materials.

Robert Dreher was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation and …