Topic: Pharmaceutical Fraud

A producer from the TV show "The Doctors" reveals that a major story regarding CDC fraud was suppressed because the show's funding came from the pharmaceutical industry. The segment claims that mainstream news outlets like CNN and MSNBC refused to cover the whistleblower story due to their financial ties to Big Pharma.

The hosts explain a perceived scam where pharmaceutical companies drastically inflate the price of generic pills, which insurance companies pay while keeping patient co-pays low. They predict this model will eventually be used to drain the Social Security system through high Medicare Part D premiums. They advise listeners to check the actual cost of their medications on pharmacy receipts.

The FDA issued a warning regarding counterfeit versions of the cancer drug Avastin appearing in the U.S. supply chain. A 60 Minutes report by Sanjay Gupta further highlights the global trade in counterfeit prescription medications, estimated at $75 billion annually.

The CNBC show "American Greed" highlights the case of Bextra, a Pfizer drug linked to a fatal skin disease that was illegally marketed for off-label use. Pfizer eventually paid $2.3 billion in civil and criminal fines, the largest such penalty in U.S. history at the time. The hosts note that despite the massive fine and criminal counts, no executives were sent to jail, and the story received relatively little mainstream media attention.

Pfizer agreed to a $2.3 billion settlement with the Department of Justice, marking the largest healthcare fraud settlement in U.S. history. The fine includes a $1.195 billion criminal penalty for the illegal promotion of certain drugs for off-label uses. The hosts discuss how these costs contribute to the overall expense of the healthcare system and the role of "Timmy" Geithner's Treasury in collecting the funds.