Quoted from http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100809-702486.html
AstraZeneca Pays $198M To Settle US Seroquel Claims
AUGUST 9, 2010
By Simon Zekaria Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
LONDON (Dow Jones)--U.K. pharmaceutical group AstraZeneca PLC (AZN.LN) said Monday it has reached a $198 million settlement over claims regarding its best-selling antipsychotic drug Seroquel in the U.S.
AstraZeneca has faced thousands of product-liability lawsuits alleging that the use of Seroquel caused diabetes and other injuries, and that the company failed to adequately warn of the drug's risks.
The group has also faced long-running allegations it improperly promoted the drug, which is approved to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression.
The settlement relates to 17,500 product liability claims, and the company said the mediation process over claims is ongoing in both federal and state jurisdictions.
"We remain committed to a strong defense effort, but will also continue to participate in good faith in court-ordered mediation," the company said in a statement.
Federal prosecutors and authorities from several U.S. states have been probing allegations AstraZeneca promoted Seroquel off-label, or for uses not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In April, the company announced a settlement of $520 million with the U.S. Justice Department over the matter.
Astrazeneca Monday said that, as of June 29, approximately 2,900 additional claims had been dismissed by order or agreement.