No Regard for Human Safety, Lying for Profits
Eli Lilly is a pharmaceutical company that has been involved in various legal controversies and settlements over the years. Some examples include:
In 2009, the company agreed to pay $1.4 billion to settle charges that it illegally marketed the antipsychotic drug Zyprexa for off-label uses.
In 2013, Eli Lilly agreed to pay $29 million to settle charges that it had violated the False Claims Act by promoting the use of the antidepressant Cymbalta for unapproved uses.
In 2015, the company agreed to pay $22.5 million to settle charges that it had violated the False Claims Act by promoting the use of the diabetes drug Byetta for off-label uses.
Actos – produced by the Japanese pharmaceutical company, Takeda. Actos (pioglitazone), used for diabetes, was co-marketed by Eli Lilly from 1999 to 2009 in the US. Both companies faced thousands of lawsuits for injuries such as congestive heart failure and bladder cancer. In 2015, Takeda agreed to settle thousands of Actos lawsuits for $2.3 billion)
Byetta – originally produced in conjunction with Amylin Pharmaceuticals and used for diabetes. Exenatide, the active ingredient may have caused pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. Lilly is no longer in partnership with Amylin but both companies, along with AstraZeneca faced multiple lawsuits stemming to pre-2011 use and similar lawsuits have been filed for a next generation product, Bydureon. Many of the Byetta lawsuits have been dismissed but others may still remain in courts.
Zyprexa – Lilly was the subject of the largest criminal fine in pharmaceutical history for its illegal marketing of olanzapine for dementia and pediatric use when it was approved for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia in adults. Lilly paid $1.42 billion in criminal penalties and civil lawsuits. Another $62 million has been paid to litigants in 32 states and more lawsuits are pending. The company also agreed in 2007, to pay $1.2 billion to settle 30,000 lawsuits for people who claimed they had developed diabetes due to Zyprexa use.
Prozac – one of the most famous drugs of all-time. Prozac was attributed with a high risk of suicide and Eli Lilly paid over $50 million by the year 2000 for multiple lawsuits regarding Prozac use. In addition, Prozac use is suspected of causing birth defects in pregnant women, though the company has not admitted to liability in lawsuits that claim Prozac birth defects.
Symbyax – a combination of the active ingredients in Prozac (fluoxetine) and Zyprexa (olanzapine). Lilly faced a number of unsuccessful lawsuits for claims of birth defects such as cleft lip and palate, anencephaly, spina bifida and club foot.
Axiron – testosterone replacement therapy has been linked to a higher risk of heart attack, stroke, blood clot development, and death. Axiron is the second best-selling testosterone product on the market and many manufacturers of testosterone replacement products are facing hundreds of lawsuits regarding injury and death. About 400 Axiron lawsuits against Eli Lilly were settled in December of 2017.
Cymbalta – used to treat depression. Cymbalta has been shown to cause severe withdrawal effects in some patients. Lilly has been accused of misleading consumers and the medical community about the likelihood and severity of possible withdrawal effects. Lilly faced a number of lawsuits regarding Cymbalta withdrawal and class action lawsuits filed by people who claimed the company misrepresented the drug. Though settlements may have been reached in a few lawsuits, the class action lawsuit was dismissed in October 2017.
Jardiance – an SGLT2 inhibitor medication used to treat Type 2 diabetes. Jardiance and similar medications have been linked to an increased risk of ketoacidosis, kidney disease, cardiac problems and other injuries to the extremities or genitalia. Though most SGLT2 lawsuits have been filed against other manufacturers, Eli Lilly may be facing hundreds of Jardiance lawsuits, many of which have been consolidated in federal court but have yet to be settled.
Source: https://www.drugdangers.com/manufacturers/eli-lilly-co/
It’s important to note that these are legal settlements and do not necessarily imply guilt on the part of the company.
Read full List: https://www.corp-research.org/eli-lilly
All criminal complaints against Eli Lilly: https://violationtracker.goodjobsfirst.org/parent/eli-lilly