GlaxoSmithKline have been found guilty of widespread fraud over the manner in which their sales force has marketed their pharmaceutical products in the US and agreed to pay an astonishing US$3 billion in compensation.

The actions investigated date from 2004 and the fines concern the marketing of three drugs in an illegal fashion, that cover both criminal and civil charges. Huge incentives were offered for Doctors to prescribe the antidepressant drugs, Wellbutrin, Paxil and Avandia, though a number of other products were involved.

The US Government will have the power to overview Glaxo's sales practices in the US as part of the overall settlement, to ensure that they stay on the straight and narrow for a five year period.

Glaxo are not the only pharmaceutical company involved in what seems to be a fairly widespread use of bribery as a means of getting your drugs out into the US market, with two other pharmaceutical companies also hit, with fines of US$1.6 billion and US2 billion but the Glaxo fine is an unwanted record for this UK based International company.