$62 Million Zyprexa Settlement

Eli Lilly has been involved in an 18-month investigation of improper marketing of Zyprexa. That investigation was conducted by states’ attorneys general who alleged that Eli Lilly’s conduct was violation of consumer protection laws in their various states. Zyprexa is approved for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. However, Eli Lilly promoted its use to doctors, for patients who had other conditions. The settlement provides for $62 million to be divided among 33 states. Another pharmaceutical company, Merck, paid $58 million to settle claims that it engaged in similar conduct with respect to its drug Vioxx. Eli Lilly is also involved in a separate, but related investigation by federal prosecutors in Philadelphia, which may be close to reaching a $1 billion settlement, including fines and restitution to several states and the federal government. The Philadelphia investigation also concerns Eli Lilly marketing Zyprexa for use in patients for whom it was not approved. Though there are also individual personal injury cases related to Zyprexa, these settlements do not involve the individual personal injury litigation alleging harm from using Zyprexa. Some of the adverse effects of Zyprexa include excessive weight gain and a higher risk of causing diabetes than other bipolar and schizophrenia medications.