Feds ask to join Pfizer whistleblower suit

The Department of Justice wants to take the reins in a whistleblower suit claiming Wyeth mismarketed its transplant drug Rapamune.

The Department of Justice wants to take the reins in a whistleblower suit claiming Wyeth mismarketed its transplant drug Rapamune. The feds asked a federal judge in Philadelphia to allow them to take over the case, originally filed by two former sales reps assigned to the drug. The suit alleges that Wyeth touted Rapamune for off-label uses and improperly targeted black patients.

The Justice Department contends that it has "good cause to intervene"--in other words, government attorneys think the whistleblowers have a decent case. In addition to the off-label marketing allegations, the suit accuses Wyeth of violating kickback laws by giving doctors cash and other incentives to persuade them to prescribe Rapamune. "It's always good to have the government on your side," plaintiff's attorney Reuben Guttman told the New York Times.

Pfizer, which bought Wyeth last year, has already disclosed a government probe of Rapamune marketing. Now, it says it's cooperating with the fe