Eli Lilly settles more Zyprexa (olanzapine) law suits

Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly and Co. says it has settled an additional 900 product liability lawsuits, four of which were scheduled to go to trial in July, which alleged that the firm did not adequately warn patients that its best-selling anti-psychotic Zyprexa (olanzapine) increased the risk of diabetes.

Lilly launched Zyprexa 1996. Thousands of patients had sued Lilly, claiming it had hidden the risks of weight gain and diabetes associated with Zyprexa. Many of the suits claimed that the product insert, prior to the September 2003 change, did not adequately warn of high blood-sugar risk and diabetes. In 2003 the FDA added a warning to antipsychotic drugs, including Zyprexa, about their tendency to cause high blood sugar

In the last two years, Lilly has settled 28,500 Zyprexa cases. In two previous rounds of settlements, Lilly agreed to pay out $1.2 billion. The company still faces Zyprexa liability lawsuits from about 750 patients.

Two recent court rulings by the Canadian Federal Court and the German Patent Court that could result in the entry of generic olanzapine (Zyprexa) into the Canadian and German markets.