Pfizer has agreed to pay over 2.3 billion dollars for its now withdrawn drug Bextra. The fines stem from criminal charges that were pending against Bextra that involved amongst other things violation of federal regulations for promotion of the drug.

It’s the largest fine ever in US history.

In a subsequent story Pfizer has been sued in a product liability claim for its anti-smoking drug Chantix. The suit was filed by a family in Dallas for wrongful death also alleging the victims behaviour changed radically after taking the drug. The FDA has recently announced that the drug be labelled appropriately warning users that it has life threatening side effects. A number of similar suits have been filed against Chantix.

In January of this year Eli Lilly paid out 1.4 billion for it’s now former flagship drug Zyprexa.