
As controversy swirls over the use of pharmaceutical coupons, Pfizer (PFE) has agreed to pay $975,000 to settle charges of misleading people who wound up spending much more than expected when they used coupons supplied by the drug maker.
This marked the second time in recent months that Pfizer took such a step. Last October, the company reached a $700,000 settlement with New York State over similar allegations.
In both instances, consumers were told they would “pay no more than” a small amount of money — from $15 to $25 — for certain medicines, but were actually required to pay more because of limits on total savings that were not prominently disclosed.