usage the fda had rejected due to safety concerns. doctors responded. instead of prescribing, say, ibuprofen at pennies a pill they prescribed bextra at nearly $3 a pill for all kinds of unapproved use. >> sales were very good. >> reporter: he was a sales rep in columbus, ohio. he would later collect reward money that the federal government gives whistleblowers. did the sales rep know what they were doing was illegal? >> they said that the district manager approved it. they think it might not be legal, but if they don't make their numbers they're not going to keep their job anyway. >> reporter: it brought pfizer nearly $1 billion in profits. it cost us all because medicare, medicaid and our private insurance picked up much of the tab.