Lilly’s legal woes continue

Utah Attorney General files suit in state court May 17 against Lilly to recover Medicaid funds it says were spent on "inappropriate and medically unnecessary doses of Zyprexa" as a result of Lilly's marketing of the atypical antipsychotic for off-label uses like Alzheimer's disease, geriatric dementia and Tourette's syndrome. Utah AG also alleges Lilly marketed Zyprexa (olanzapine), which is approved for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, "as being medically superior to other antipsychotic medication" and not requiring blood tests or other monitoring, which the firm knew to be false because an increased risk of hyperglycemia, weight gain and diabetes associated with the drug would necessitate medical monitoring and blood tests. The state claims it is entitled to restitution for unnecessary prescriptions and the resulting cost of care, as well as civil penalties and legal fees. Zyprexa has been the subject of extensive legal action. In January, Lilly announced it would pay up to $500 million to settle the "vast majority" of claims alleging that the company failed to adequately warn patients of Zyprexa risks (1"The Pink Sheet" Jan. 8, 2007, p. 16)...