AstraZeneca to pay $520 million for pushing Seroquel, linked to child obesity

One of the world's largest drug companies, AstraZeneca, agreed to pay $520 million to settle a U.S. government lawsuit claiming the company encouraged doctors to prescribe an anti-psychotic drug to children, veterans and the elderly outside its intended use.

Seroquel is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression. But the Justice Department said AstraZeneca, a British-Swedish company with U.S. headquarters in Delaware, suggested using it for anger management, sleeplessness, anxiety and Alzheimer's disease.