Drug Maker Still Faces Product Liability Cases Involving 750 Zyprexa Patients
(Posted by Tom Lamb at DrugInjuryWatch.com)
A June 12, 2007 Associated Press (AP) article reports that the Eli Lilly and Co. has settled another 900 Zyprexa lawsuits. These legal cases have generally involved allegations by patients that their Zyprexa use has caused diabetes or high blood sugar and that the Zyprexa package insert, or label, failed to adequately warn users of these side effect risks.
In June 2005 Eli Lilly & Co. started reaching settlement agreements with certain groups of plaintiffs' lawyers to resolve these Zyprexa cases.
According to this June 12 AP article about the 900 latest Zyprexa settlements:
- "The Indianapolis-based drug maker declined to release the settlement amount. But spokeswoman Marni Lemons said Tuesday it would have no material impact on the company's financial statements."
- "The company was scheduled to go to trial July 9 in federal court for four Zyprexa claims, but those cases are part of the latest settlement, Lemons said."
- "Lilly has settled roughly 28,500 product liability claims involving Zyprexa over the past two years. In June 2005, the company settled 8,000 claims for $690 million. This past January, it settled more than 18,000 for roughly $500 million."
- "Lilly still faces product liability lawsuits from roughly 750 patients."
Zyprexa is an anti-psychotic Zyprexa used to treat patients who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Zyprexa, Lilly's top-selling drug, generated $4.4 billion in sales last year and $1.1 billion during the first quarter of 2007.