Drug at Center of Virginia Ex-Gov. Scandal Now Focus of Class-Action Suit

Accused of false claims of being a "wonder drug"

A federal class action claims the makers and hawker of a "wonder drug" called Anatabloc push it with false claims that it can treat Alzheimer's and multiple sclerosis—and bribed the former governor of Virginia to endorse it.

Lead plaintiff Howard T. Baldwin sued Star Scientific, Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals, and GNC Holdings.

The complaint states: "Star Scientific bribed the now-indicted former Virginia governor and his wife to promote Anatabloc from the governor's mansion."

Former Gov. Robert McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, are not parties to this lawsuit. Their alleged role in pushing the drug will be described later in this article.

Star Scientific, of Glen Allen, Va., "claims to be a specialty pharmaceutical company engaged in the development, manufacture, and marketing of bioequivalent pharmaceutical products in addition to the development of branded products," Baldwin says in the lawsuit.