Carey, Danis & Lowe has actively investigated cases of serious injuries and diseases stemming from the use of Zyprexa (olanzapine) in Missouri and throughout the United States. So we were pleased to see in the St. Louis Business Journal that Zyprexa’s maker, Eli Lilly & Co., has agreed to an $800 million settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice over Zyprexa marketing practices. The settlement covers civil claims by federal and state Medicare and Medicaid agencies, as well as a $615 million fine for violating the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Missouri’s Medicaid agency will receive nearly $18 million as part of the settlement and Illinois will receive a combined $44 million for Medicaid and the state itself.
The claims stemmed from Eli Lilly’s choice to market Zyprexa for off-label uses. The drug was approved by the FDA as an anti-psychotic for use with patients who have schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, but the company marketed it for a variety of maladies, including anxiety, age-related dementia and addiction to gambling. Marketing a drug for uses not approved by the FDA is illegal under the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Unfortunately, Zyprexa has also been linked by research to serious blood-sugar and pancreas disorders, including diabetes, hypoglycemia and pancreatitis.
These are serious, chronic medical conditions that generally must be managed over the patient’s entire lifetime. If they aren’t detected and treated in time, they can lead to other serious medical problems, including diabetic comas, amputations and loss of eyesight. Just like other companies, drug makers like Eli Lilly have a responsibility to take reasonable care to avoid harming their customers. In this case, that could mean complete honesty about any information they may have had about Zyprexa and blood sugar disorders. It could also mean not encouraging primary care doctors to prescribe the medication for uses that weren’t approved or intended by regulators.
When drug makers deliberately break laws and fail to warn the public about the risks of their products, they are legally liable for any harm they cause to their customers. In a defective drug lawsuit, consumers can win reimbursement for the cost of treating the side effects of dangerous medications; replace any income they lost; win compensation for the loss of their good health or a loved one; and ensure that the drug maker is forced to stop its deceptive and abusive practices. Carey, Danis & Lowe handles Zyprexa injury lawsuits and claims over many other defective prescription drugs, in Missouri and throughout the United States. If you believe you have a claim and would like to know more, please contact us today for a free consultation.
