The company was accused of misrepresenting the prescription drug use of the powerful pain reliever, OxyContin.
It was found that the Purdue Frederick Company used schemes illegally promoting the drug as being less addictive, less likely to be abused and less likely to cause withdrawal symptoms in comparison with other prescribed pain medications.
"[The] FDA will not tolerate practices that falsely promote drug products and place consumers at health risk," according to the Associate Commissioner for Regulatory Affairs, Margaret O. K. Glavin.
"We will continue to do all we can to protect the public against drug companies and their representatives who are not truthful and bilk consumers of precious health care dollars," Glavin added.
The company trained the sales representatives to make false claims to healthcare providers. Purdue also made false labeling claims on the product itself.
The FDA previously required strengthened warnings to labels for OxyContin because of numerous reports of abuse and serious consequences, including death.
