Eli Lilly & Co., the pharmaceutical company that manufactures Zyprexa, will pay $1.42 billion to settle federal and state civil and criminal lawsuits related to the drug. They have been charged with illegally marketing Zyprexa for an unapproved use.
Zyprexa is an anti-psychotic drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in treating schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. However, Eli Lilly & Co. has been marketing the drug to treat dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. The FDA has not approved Zyprexa for treatment of these conditions.
The lawsuits against Zyprexa are aimed at sending a message to other pharmaceutical companies who regularly engage in similar “off-label” marketing practices. The government is attempting to crack down on this practice, since it puts many patients at risk.
This is not the first time Eli Lilly & Co. has been sued in relation to Zyprexa. The company has paid approximately $1.2 billion to settle 32,000 pharmaceutical liability claims involving the drug. There are currently about 125 cases still pending.
Despite settling the cases with the government, Eli Lilly & Co. denies all wrong-doing in the “off-label” marketing charges.
If you live in the Mobile, Alabama area and have been injured or developed an illness from taking Zyprexa or any other dangerous drug, please contact the Law Offices of Long & Waite, P.C. today to schedule a consultation.
