Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation agreed to pay 422.5 million to resolve criminal and civil liability arising from the illegal marketing of certain pharmaceutical products. According to the agreement reached with the government, the East Hanover, N.J.-based company was to plead guilty to a misdemeanor and pay a 185 million combined criminal fine and forfeiture for the off-label promotion of Trileptal in violation of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Trileptal as an anti-epileptic drug, for the treatment of partial seizures, but not for any psychiatric, pain or other uses. Once a pharmaceutical is approved by the FDA, a manufacturer may not market or promote it for any use not specified in its new drug application.