Eli Lilly is in talks with federal prosecutors to possibly settle the investigation into the marketing tactics it used to sell the antipsychotic drug Zyprexa. The New York Times reports that the discussions could potentially result in Lilly paying a fine of more than $1 billion to federal and state governments.
The allegations against the company stem from documents showing that Eli Lilly encouraged doctors to prescribe Zyprexa for age-related dementia, even though the drug is approved to treat only schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. According to the NYT, Zyprexa brought in $4.8 billion in sales in 2007.
Federal prosecutors in Philadelphia are negotiating the settlement for the government, in consultation with the Justice Department in Washington. Attorneys from Philadelphia-based Pepper Hamilton and Chicago-based Sidley Austin are representing Lilly.
According to the Times, Nina Gussack is one of the Pepper Hamilton lawyers negotiating for Lilly. Though lawyers at Sidley declined to comment, Washington partner Paul Kalb is the firm's lead attorney representing Lilly.
WHY is a criminal charge only of a misdemeanor being considered in the Zyprexa case. Well over a thousand people are dead from the drug. Enron execs went to prison for messing up with money. Lilly execs must go to jail for killing. Doesn´t this ever happen in the pharmaceutical industry? I am asking because my son was killed by this drug - no warning from the doctor or the company. In fact, they denied ANY side effects until recently, while the Zyprexa papers (see on blog furious seasons) names those discussing these lethal side effects in 1996 and deciding to hide them and put the drug on the market.
Posted by: So Sad | February 01, 2008 at 11:00 AM