Minnesota Sues Eli Lilly Over Zyprexa Marketing
3 CommentsBy Ed Silverman // November 3rd, 2008 // 5:24 pm
Minnesota has joined a growing number of states charging the drugmaker with downplaying side effects of the antipsychotic and marketing the drug for unapproved uses. The state’s attorney general filed a lawsuit in federal court last week, saying Minnesota spent more than $175 million through public health programs on Zyprexa prescriptions between 2000 and 2007.
Lilly has spent more than $1.1 billion since 2005 to settle product liability claims over Zyprexa and last month announced a $62 million settlement with 32 states and Washington, DC (look here). Minnesota, however, was not part of that case but has been holding settlement talks. “We weren’t frankly…comfortable with the amount of money that was being offered to Minnesota, and we communicated that to the company and what our concerns were there,” a spokeswoman for the AG tells the Associated Press (here is the lawsuit).
He declined to elaborate on the amount or the talks, citing their confidential Wogsland said the lawsuit helps the state learn more about the drug’s impact on Minnesota through the discovery process, the AP writes.
Lilly’s Zyprexa legal woes also include an investigation by the US Attorney’s office in Philadelphia. The drugmaker recorded a loss in the third quarter largely due to a $1.4 billion charge related to the investigation of Zyprexa marketing practices. Lilly took the charge because advanced talks are being held over the investigation (back story).
Lilly has long maintained that it promotes its medications only for approved uses. A Lilly spokesman wrote the AP to say Lilly is committed “to the highest ethical standards and to promoting our medications only for approved uses…We have clear guidelines and extensive training for our sales representatives to help assure that they provide appropriate promotional information that is within the scope of prescribing information approved by the FDA.”
Julian
Dear Sir/Madam
I came to suffer from Schizophrenia in Norway. It took two years to diagnose. I was put immediately on Zyprexa as a front line. The symptoms stop and the illness was so serious I felt uncomfortable about stopping. I put 25 kg on in 3 weeks. I have been unable to do the damage and currently use Rispirdal Consta which leave little or no side effects. I would like to be compensated for my bad experience. Is there any talk of a class action law suit?
Daniel Haszard
Addictive Zyprexa Pushed by Lilly Drug Reps
They called it the “VIVA ZYPREXA” campaign to off label market Eli Lilly Zyprexa as a fix for unapproved usage.
Zyprexa (Olanzapine) is known as an atypical antipsychotic It’s mechanism of action is thought to be that it increases levels of serotonin and dopamine. It’s chemical name is thienobenzodiazepine although is not a benzo like valium.One of it’s well known major side effects is weight gain which is why it is sometimes favored for those with eating disorders (which would be an off label use)
Doctors are at liberty prescribe drugs ‘off label’ like Zyprexa which is only FDA approved for schizophrenia and bipolar.They can give it or just about any drug for conditions other than what the drug was tested for.The doctors don’t realize that Zyprexa is very addictive once a dependence has been built up and withdrawal is wicked.
I took it 1996-2000 for PTSD and it was worthless for my symptoms and gave me diabetes with an A1C of 13.9 normal blood sugar is 4
I had to get off it and it took me two months of horrible insomnia,I did not sleep for weeks.
So,be warned Zyprexa IS addictive,I think worst than nicotine and don’t go off it unless you do so gradually under a doctor’s care.
I am a whole lot better now,except for the diabetes and wishing every one a happy Holiday season free of Zyprexa.
Eli Lilly is experiencing difficult times,as a Zyprexa damage claimant I can only hope they stay afloat to resolve their outstanding debts
Daniel Haszard http://www.zyprexa-victims.com
Sophie
Lilly has been and is getting off light with this lethal drug, which has so far killed or maimed 30,000 in the U.S.
For one thing, it’s still on the market.
For another, their settlements are chump change compared to what they are making off the drug.
And finally, there has been no justice, no admission of guilt, no jail term for any Lilly execs. Yet many families will suffer forever from the loss of their innocent loved ones.
Check the Zyprexa site on the furious seasons blog, which Lilly lawyers do all the time, to read some of the real truth of Lilly’s lethal secrets.