Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2007. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
|
|
Wall Street Journal - May 3, 2007
David Armstrong, david.armstrong@wsj.com
The executives, who all faced charges of criminal conspiracy, are John Bruens of San Diego; Mary Stewart of North Andover, Mass.; Melissa Vaughn of Louisville, Colo., and Marc Sirockman of Flemington, N.J.
Attorney Adam Hoffinger, who represented Ms. Vaughn, said the jury returned the not guilty verdicts after deliberating for three hours. "The speed of the verdict confirms what we believed: that this case shouldn't have been charged in first case," he said. A spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's office in Boston, which prosecuted the case, did not have an immediate comment.
The indictment alleged that the executives were part of a scheme to offer bribes to doctors to get them to prescribe Serono's AIDS-wasting drug, Serostim. The alleged conspiracy was hatched, according to the indictment, to bolster disappointing sales of the product. Among the alleged inducements offered to doctors was an all-expenses paid trip to Cannes, France, in 1999.
Separately, a unit of Serono pleaded guilty in 2005 to two counts of conspiracy and agreed to pay a $704 million fine to resolve criminal and civil charges related to the marketing of Serostim.
070503
WJ070410
Copyright © 2007 - The Wall Street Journal. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the WSJ Permissions Desk.
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Boehringer Ingelheim, Bridgestone/Firestone Charitable Trust, Elton John AIDS Foundation UK, the National Library of Medicine, AIDS Walk of Orange County, and donations from users like you.
Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2007. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980, 2007. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .