Lilly settles $22.5 million Zyprexa lawsuit

2009-08-25 02:34:24 (GMT) (JusticeNewsFlash.com - Government, Justice News Flash)

Wiki Commons:Eli Lilly settles $22.5 million West Virginia suit.

West Virginia Attorney General’s office settled a lawsuit against Eli Lilly & Co., for false marketing of Zyprexa. Government lawyers contended Lilly failed to properly warn patients of the antipsychotic drugs risks and other accusations.

West Virginia attorney news-government lawyers for the state of West Virginia settle $22.5 million Zyprexa, antipsychotic drug, lawsuit with Eli Lilly.

Charleston, WV–Eli Lilly and Company, a global drug manufacturer headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by the West Virginia Attorney General’s office as reported by CNN. The government lawyers for the state of West Virginia filed suit against the drug company claiming Lilly improperly promoted the antipsychotic prescription medication Zyprexa to doctors and patients. The government attorneys and Lilly leaders agreed to the $22.5 million settlement in July of this year and it was unsealed in court on Thursday, August 20, 2009.

This is one of numerous lawsuits filed by various government lawyer’s offices across the country plus personal injury lawyers, and product liability attorneys against Lilly regarding false marketing practices of Zyprexa. Lilly has not admitted any wrongdoing and is accused of marketing the drug for off-label uses in elderly patients and children which have not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) http://www.fda.gov.

Lilly posted $2.3 billion is sales of their top selling drug, Zyprexa, for the first half of 2009. The West Virginia settlement agreement outlined the drug company will pay $15.75 million to the state and $6.75 million to outside attorneys. Lilly must also educate doctors about Zyprexa safety, efficacy, and approved uses plus disclose the clinical trial data as part of the agreement. The following are other states have pending cases against the international drug manufacturer: Arkansas, Connecticut, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Utah. Most of the lawsuits against the drug maker assert the antipsychotic medication causes high blood sugar and diabetes in its users, which is a serious concern for the elderly and children and doctors were not warned of these risks before prescribing to their patients. Government prosecutors also claim Lilly received reimbursement claims for unapproved uses of Zyprexa through government health-insurance programs.

West Virginia government lawyers news alert for drug injuries by legal news reporter Heather L. Ryan.