Connecticut to get $25 million from Eli Lilly settlement over marketing of Zyprexa
By APWednesday, September 30, 2009
Conn. gets $25 million from Zyprexa lawsuit
HARTFORD, Conn. — Connecticut officials say Eli Lilly & Co. has agreed to a $25 million settlement with the state over claims the drugmaker marketed its anti-psychotic drug Zyprexa for unapproved uses and harmed patients.
Attorney General Richard Blumenthal says federal regulators approved Zyprexa for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. But he says the company also promoted it for dementia, attention-deficit disorder and other unapproved uses that caused some patients to develop diabetes, heart problems and other ailments.
Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly settled similar federal claims for $1.42 billion in January. A spokeswoman says the company admits no wrongdoing, and it has now settled lawsuits with three of 13 states that sued. The two other settlements are with Alaska and West Virginia.
