AstraZeneca Class Action Dismissed

Customers tried to file a class action lawsuit against the drug manufacturer for allegedly defrauding customers with misleading advertising for Nexium. The class claimed Nexium was essentially the same drug as Prilosec and that by advertising Nexium as more effective than its predecessor, AstraZeneca misled insurers and health management organizations into paying for billions of dollars in prescriptions that were not needed. A federal court judge in Delaware has dismissed the class as the labeling of Nexium reflects a determination by the FDA that the information is not false or misleading. (Nov-14-05) [BRAND WEEK]