Drugs in Class Action Litigation: Zyprexa

Generic name: olanzapine (known as second-generation or atypical antipsychotics)
Manufactured and marketed by: Eli Lilly and Company

Purpose: For the treatment of symptoms associated with schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder.

Side Effects Reported

A panel of four health organizations, the American Diabetes Association, American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, the North American Association for the Study of Obesity, and the American Diabetes Association, indicated in a consensus statement that Zyprexa is linked to the highest risk of diabetes and weight gain among the atypical antipsychotics.

• A clinical study has reported that there exists an increased risk of stroke and ministroke in elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis who are treated with atypical antipsychotics, which has lead to a black box warning for Zyprexa and other atypical antipsychotics.
• Atypical antipsychotics in general have been linked to increasing the risk of obesity, weight gain, high cholesterol, as well as diabetes and hyperglycemia in schizophrenia patients who take these drugs.
• The risk of diabetes and hyperglycemia is increased further in those patients that have additional risk factors such as preexisting obesity or family history of diabetes.
• The FDA has requested that manufacturers of atypical antipsychotics, including Eli Lilly, the producer of Zyprexa, to include a warning about the risks of diabetes on its labeling.
• Obesity, high cholesterol and diabetes are all factors linked to increasing the risk of developing heart disease, which can lead to death.

Industry Report

In 2006, seven Illinois residents filed a lawsuit against the makers of Zyprexa, Eli Lilly & Co, for serious side effects allegedly caused by this medication. Zyprexa is approved by the FDA to treat schizophrenia and bipolar. This top-selling drug, accounting for one-third of Eli Lilly revenue, has long been associated with serious drug side effects. Each of the plaintiffs in the Zyprexa lawsuit argue that Zyprexa caused the onset of diabetes and pancreatitis.

These injured consumers argue that immediately after Eli Lilly released Zyprexa, the FDA received a high volume of adverse side effects reports—including the onset of diabetes and related health conditions—from those patients taking this drug. While Eli Lilly was well aware of Zyprexa's propensity to cause diabetes, they failed to adequately warn consumers and doctors, argue the plaintiffs.

On June 7, 2005, Eli Lilly and Christopher Seeger of Seeger Weiss LLP, on behalf of the Plaintiff's Steering Committee in the federal Zyprexa MDL, announced a $700 million settlement. This settlement consists of approximately 8,000 cases against Eli Lilly, dealing with allegations that the atypical anti-psychotic drug Zyprexa caused patients to develop diabetes and diabetes-related injuries.

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