New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer accused Pharmacia, GlaxoSmithKline, and Aventis of bribing doctors and pharmacists to favor their products, costing consumers as much as $100 million a year. Spitzer�s lawsuits against the companies allege consumer fraud, commercial bribery and making false statements concerning wholesale prices to government-operated subsidized health plans.

“It is craven, it is wrong,” said Spitzer. He said drug companies “will not pick the pockets of those who need pharmaceuticals to support their dividends and their CEOs’ outrageous salaries.”

Drug company officials say their practices are legal and that the states are overreaching.

(via The Associated Press)