Dr. Drew cosies up to big pharma says judge

Dr. Drew Pinsky is cited by Feds as receiving drug company money to promote an anti-depressant.

The celebrity physician was named in a lawsuit against British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) who was fined for making false claims and paying physicians to tout a drug for uses not approved by the Food and Drug Administration, said the Wall Street Journal.

GSK recent paid $3 billion in criminal violations for misreporting drug prices and illegal marketing.

Though his actions do not constitute a crime, the Atlantic reported that Dr. Drew was given $275,000 to promote the anti-depressant Wellbutrin as a libido-enhancing drug.

The federal judge said that Pinsky was one of GSK's paid experts in the late 1990s who helped advertise the drug to listeners of his radio show "Loveline," reported Forbes.

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Pinsky was accused of telling a patient that the drug was behind her dozens of orgasms she claimed to have during one night of lovemaking.

According to the LAist, Dr. Drew said in a statement that his comments were consistent with his clinical experience – a common explanation of doctors accused of cosying up to big pharma companies.

According to ProPublica, Dr. Drew is no stranger to drug company money.

Pinsky was also paid to act as a consultant by Johnson & Johnson two years before.

The Atlantic reported that Pinsky also sells advertising spots on his Twitter account, yet those he makes clear are paid for by other companies.

Pinsky currently hosts the program Dr. Drew on HLN.