A U.S. Ditrict Court judge Tuesday approved the drug maker Allergan’s guilty plea to misbranding Botox and to paying $600 million in fines stemming from that infraction.
Judge Orinda Evans in Atlanta sentenced Allergan to pay $375 million as part of the guilty plea for the misleading marketing of Botox, while the drug maker also agreed to fork over $225 million in civil fines.
About a month ago Allergan announced that it had reached a settlement with authorities and was goig to plead guilty of marketing Botox, the wrinkle-smoother, for uses not approved by the Food and Drug Administration, such as cerebral palsy in children, headaches and pain. These infractions took place from 2000 to 2005. Allergan also agreed to pay the $600 million fine as part of that deal.
Botox is widely used to erase lines on faces, but it is also approved for use on neck spasms and underarm sweating, according to the Associated Press. Last year Botox was approved to treat spasms in the wrists, fingers and elbows, but doctors still also use it on children with cerebral palsy.
Allergan has said that it’s working with health officials to get Botox approved for use with childen with that disorder.
