PFIZER paga...por Neurontin.

Pfizer Inc., the world’s largest drugmaker, was ordered to pay a total of $142.1 million in damages for violating U.S. racketeering laws in the marketing of its epilepsy drug Neurontin.

U.S. District Judge Patti Saris in Boston yesterday upheld a jury’s finding that Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Inc. and Kaiser Foundation Hospitals deserved the award over the companies’ claims that Pfizer illegally promoted Neurontin for unapproved uses. Saris tripled the jury’s award of $47.3 million under a provision of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act of 1970.

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New York-based Pfizer currently faces more than 300 suits accusing it of illegally promoting Neurontin or hiding its health risks. Lawyers for ex-Neurontin users contend the drugmaker knew the medicine posed a suicide risk and failed to disclose it to patients and doctors.

The company also has settled at least two suits alleging the drug played a role in users’ suicides, paying almost $400,000 in one of the accords, people familiar with the deals said last year.