Georgia To Receive $21 Million In Pfizer Payout

ATLANTA (AP) - Georgia is expected to receive about $21.7 million from the record $2.3 billion civil and criminal penalty that Pfizer Inc. is paying over unlawful prescription drug promotions.

Attorney General Thurbert Baker said Wednesday the money could pay for the coverage of more than 8,900 non-disabled Georgia children.

The Justice Department said Pfizer’s settlement includes a $1.2 billion criminal fine, the largest criminal fine in U.S. history. The agreement also included a criminal forfeiture of $105 million.

Authorities say Pfizer’s salesmen and women created phony doctor requests for medical information in order to send unsolicited information to doctors about unapproved uses and dosages. They say the company wined and dined doctors and sent them on exotic trips to induce them to prescribe its drugs.