Case Info
Zyprexa Unauthorized Usage
Zyprexa is an atypical antipsychotic medication approved to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It may also have contributed to the development of serious side effects including diabetes.
Zyprexa’s manufacturer, Eli Lilly, was accused of marketing the medication for unapproved uses such as dementia symptoms in the elderly. This may have put thousands of patients at unnecessary risk for diabetes and other serious injuries.
Eli Lilly Lawsuits
In the early 2000s, thousands of people filed lawsuits against Eli Lilly over violations of the False Claims Act, which requires that companies only promote medications for uses that have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
In 2009, Eli Lilly pled guilty to charges of illegal marketing Zyprexa for unapproved uses. The company agreed to pay $800 million to settle lawsuits with federal, state and local agencies and agreed to pay about $615 million in criminal fines and penalties.
For drug injury claims, Eli Lilly ultimately agreed to settle about 28,500 Zyprexa lawsuits in federal, state, and local courts for approximately $1.2 billion in 2007.