David Franklin[1] | |
---|---|
Born | 1961 (age 62–63) |
Alma mater | University of Rhode Island (doctoral) Harvard Medical School (Post-doctoral) |
Known for | Precedent setting stance against pharmaceutical industry fraud |
Awards | Dana–Farber Cancer Institute Abraham Fellowship in Pediatric Oncology National Research Service Award |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Biotechnology/Entrepreneurship Evidence-based medicine Dempster–Shafer theory Decision theory Complex adaptive system |
Institutions | BSX IDXX Parke-Davis |
Doctoral advisor | Paul Cohen |
Other academic advisors | Barbara Bierer Jamie Ferreira |
David Franklin[1] is an American microbiologist and former fellow of Harvard Medical School who while employed by Parke-Davis filed the 1996 whistleblower lawsuit exposing their illegal promotion of Neurontin (gabapentin) for off-label uses.[2] Franklin's suit, filed on behalf of the citizens of the United States under the qui tam provisions of US federal and state law, uncovered illegal pharmaceutical industry practices and created new legal precedent that resulted in a cascade of criminal convictions and civil and criminal penalties against Pfizer and several other pharmaceutical companies totalling more than $7 billion.[3] Civil cases also followed Franklin v. Parke-Davis. Insurance companies, led by Kaiser Permanente, sued Pfizer for fraud and violation of the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act;[4] the Kaiser case settled in April 2014 after Pfizer's appeal at the US Supreme Court was rejected.[5] Franklin v. Pfizer also spawned more than a thousand wrongful death (suicide) suits associated with use of Neurontin.[6][7] Numerous books have addressed the social, economic and healthcare implications of Dr. Franklin's stance and actions.[8] The settlement was the first off-label promotion settlement under the False Claims Act.[9][10]: 194
{{citation}}
: |author=
has generic name (help)