March 11, 2008 -Attorney General Richard Blumenthal today sued Eli Lilly and Company, Inc. for illegally marketing its antipsychotic drug Zyprexa for unapproved uses, and concealing the drug's serious side effects, for more than a decade.
Eli Lilly allegedly corrupted physicians, pharmacies and administrators at nursing homes and youth detention centers as part of a massive illegal marketing campaign to promote Zyprexa for unapproved off-label uses, including for the treatment of children.
The deceptive marketing campaign dangerously concealed risks associated with Zyprexa, including diabetes, cardiovascular problems, and significant weight gain.
In a lawsuit filed today, Blumenthal seeks to recover millions of taxpayer and consumer dollars improperly spent on Zyprexa as a result of its illegal marketing, and millions more spent for treatment of serious side effects from Zyprexa.
"The illegal marketing campaign exploited children and senior citizens - causing severe weight gain, diabetes and cardiovascular problems," Blumenthal said. "This scheme involved payments to public officials, bogus educational events and ghostwritten promotional articles summarizing suspect studies. The drug was marketed for anxiety, depression and Attention Deficit Disorder in children when it was never approved for any use in children and caused serious side effects.
"Through a complex series of illegal rackets and lies, Eli Lilly built a multi-billion dollar drug enterprise at the expense of taxpayers, consumers and patient lives. Today's action seeks millions for Connecticut taxpayers and consumers who continue to suffer the financial and physical ruin resulting from the improper prescribing of Zyprexa.
"Eli Lilly adopted a sick marketing mindset: profits over patients, sales over safety. Driven by fierce greed, Eli Lilly corrupted doctors, pharmacies and public officials nationwide who easily abandoned integrity and decency for self-enrichment. My office will fight aggressively on behalf of Connecticut citizens who continue to pay the price of Eli Lilly's illegal, senseless schemes."
Blumenthal sued pursuant to the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act (CUTPA) and the federal Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) on behalf of Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) Commissioner Jerry Farrell, Jr. and Department of Social Services (DSS) Commissioner Michael Starkowski.
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