GlaxoSmithKline Attorney Acquitted in Case Involving Paxil Side Effects

Washington, DCAn attorney for GlaxoSmithKline was recently acquitted by a federal trial judge in a corporate misconduct case involving Wellbutrin and Paxil side effects, The Wall Street Journal reports.

According to the news source, US District Court Judge Roger Titus decided to acquit the attorney without sending the case to the jury.

Prosecutors had alleged that the attorney obstructed an investigation by the US Food and Drug Administration into allegations of improper marketing of the antidepressant Wellbutrin for weight loss, according to the news source.

The government has also reportedly been investigating the drugmaker over allegations involving sales of the antidepressant Paxil, as well as the diabetes drug Avandia. While the company has not been charged, the investigation is reportedly still underway, sources close to the situation told the news provider.

Paxil has been linked to suicidal thoughts in some young adults, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information. The FDA has also reported an association between the antidepressant and birth defects such as heart problems.