Briefs

GlaxoSmithKline agreed to plead guilty and pay $3 billion to resolve criminal and civil charges that it illegally marketed off-label uses for prescription drugs and failed to adequately report safety data. The settlement, a record for a U.S. health fraud case, includes a criminal fine of $956.8 million. GSK will plead guilty to misdemeanors for marketing the depression drugs Paxil and Wellbutrin for unapproved uses and for failing to report some clinical data on the diabetes drug Avandia. The settlement also includes $1.04 billion to resolve civil claims relating to Paxil and Wellbutrin, as well as off-label marketing of other medications for which it did not admit wrongdoing.

Beats Electronics, which makes the iconic red Beats by Dr. Dre headphones, bought a music service called MOG to be able to offer streaming of high-quality soundtracks and playlists. Beats, which is majority-controlled by Korean electronics maker HTC, wants to use its music-enhancing software to give MOG subscribers a better listening experience than competitors such as Spotify and Rhapsody International. Beats, which controls nearly a third of the U.S. premium headphone market, is expanding into other fast-growing markets.