2009 has seen two historic pharmaceutical settlements: a $1.4 billion settlement involving Eli Lilly's Zyprexa in January and Pfizer's $2.3 billion settlement earlier this month.

Both times, the Philadelphia-based Sheller, P.C. law firm's unique makeup has been central in aiding the U.S. government recoup record numbers of dollars for federal and state governments, taxpayers and whistleblowers.

In the Pfizer matter, lawyers Stephen Sheller, Jim Pepper and Brian McCormick represented Ronald Rainero, a Pfizer employee-turned-whistleblower who experienced first-hand the pressure to promote Zyvox, a powerful antibiotic, off-label.

The company promoted Zyvox as superior to similar drugs, even though the FDA sent a warning letter to Pfizer in 2005 about these very claims. Off-label promotion helped push Zyvox sales to more than $1 billion - all the while bilking the government and putting the public's health at risk. Rainero blew the whistle, working in concert with the U.S. Attorney's office in Boston and Sheller lawyers.

"Our firm is uniquely qualified to handle these qui tam cases," states Sheller who himself brings four decades of civil litigation experience successfully battling automotive, tobacco, pharmaceutical and other corporate giants.

"These matters are joint efforts between the government-through the various U.S. Attorney's Offices- and the plaintiff's bar. Brian McCormick served in the FBI, working on similar investigations on behalf of that agency. Jim Pepper knows all too well the pressures pharmaceutical sales reps are under to break the law - he is a former pharma rep himself."

"Whistleblowers know that they can trust us," says Sheller. "That's one reason we have helped recoup $3.7 Billion for the government in just nine months. From our standpoint this is the work firms should be doing. And," he added "we're not finished yet."

For more information go to the Sheller, P.C. website.
To view the original press release and FDA warning letter, go here. (less info)