Pfizer announced that it voluntarily disclosed information to the US Securities and Exchange Commission and the Department of Justice about "potentially improper payments...in connection with certain sales activities outside the US," The Wall Street Journal reported Friday.

 

 

The drugmaker indicated that it is in discussions with the government to resolve the issues.

 

 

The company stated the payments were made by Pfizer and Wyeth, which Pfizer acquired in 2009. Pfizer spokesman Chris Loder noted that Pfizer previously disclosed the potentially improper payments in prior SEC filings, most recently in an annual report filed in February.

 

 

Pfizer also said potentially improper payments and other matters regarding the company are being investigated by some foreign countries, including Germany, which launched a civil and criminal probe of a Pfizer unit over certain tax issues..

 

 

In other news, Pfizer said that the consumer protection divisions of several US states have made civil investigative demands and informal inquiries seeking information and documents regarding the marketing of pain drug Lyrica (pregabalin) and the antibiotic Zyvox (linezolid).

 

 

The company said the requests appear related to the same past marketing practices for the products that were the subject of previously reported settlements totaling $2.3 billion with the Justice Department and the Medicaid fraud control units of various states.

 

 

Pfizer stated that it is looking at various options to resolve the matter with the states.