This study investigates the potential impact of illegal off-label promotion on the sales of the top selling pharmaceuticals in a U.S. market. Drawing from a dataset of the top 200 drugs by sales from 2004-2010, this is the first study to incorporate a measurement of illegal off-label promotion and the effect it has on the sales of drug products. The rising usage and litigation involved in off-label drug use underlines the importance of the current study. This study found that on average, a drug that is promoted for off-label uses can increase its sales by up to 18 percent.
