Zyprexa News
April 21, 2004
"Zyprexa lawsuits consolidated for pretrial"
Eli Lilly and Company requested a judicial panel consolidate the large, and
still growing, number of Zyprexa lawsuits in Indiana. The request was denied
but about two-dozen federal cases around the country, in addition to future
cases, will be consolidated for pretrial purposed in New York. Zyprexa patients
allege the schizophrenia can cause very serious side effects, including diabetes.
Some believe Zyprexa lawsuits could result in one of the largest class actions.
April 19, 2004
"Zyprexa class action lawsuit announced"
The filing of the first nationwide Zyprexa class action lawsuit has been announced
against Zyprexa maker Eli Lilly and Company. The Zyprexa class action lawsuit
represents all U.S. Zyprexa users. The most popular atypical antipsychotic mediation,
Zyprexa has been linked to dangerous adverse effects including diabetes, hyperglycemia,
and pancreatitis.
In 2003, the FDA requested Eli Lilly update the Zyprexa labeling to include
hyperglycemia and diabetes warnings following a 2002 Duke University study showing
a link between diabetes and Zyprexa. The British Medical Control Agency and
the Japanese Health and Welfare Ministry have also issued warnings because of
the reports of diabetes.
Zyprexa sales are still growing, with an increase of 15 percent to $1.1 billion
in the first quarter. A third of Eli Lilly's total global sales are attributed
to Zyprexa, and in 2003, Zyprexa was the world's third best selling drug with
$4.8 billion in revenue. The outcome of Zyprexa lawsuits could greatly affect
Eli Lilly's financial condition because of the large impact Zyprexa has on its
total revenue.
March 25, 2004
Eli Lilly and Co. under federal probe for marketing practices
Eli Lilly and Co. is already under federal investigation for its marketing
practices but has just announced it is under investigation for its antipsychotic
drug Zyprexa and antidepressant Prozac. Depending on the outcome of the federal
investigation, the financial implications it could have on Lilly could be drastic.
Zyprexa accounted for $4.3 billion in sales in 2003 and Prozac had sales of
over $645 million. About a third of Lilly's overall sales are attributed to
Zyprexa, with 12.5 million people having received Zyprexa prescriptions since
its 1996 arrival.
March 19, 2004
Zyprexa lawsuits filed due to serious cases of diabetes and pancreatitis
The most popular selling atypical antipsychotic medication and Eli Lilly and
Co.'s best selling drug has been the target of three more Zyprexa lawsuits after
claims of serious cases of diabetes and pancreatitis was diagnosed. Lawsuits
have already been filed against Eli Lilly for Zyprexa side effects. Approved
for the treatment of schizophrenia in 1996, Zyprexa is known as a new generation
of antipsychotics that was believed to have a lower incidence of side effects
than older alternatives.
In 2002, a Duke University study showed the link made between Zyprexa and diabetes
after documenting nearly 300 cases of diabetes in people using Zyprexa. The
British Medical Control Agency and the Japanese Health and Welfare Ministry
have already warned about diabetes risks amongst Zyprexa patients, but it was
not until recently that Zyprexa diabetes warnings were added in the U.S.
March 17, 2004
"Studies show Zyprexa, Risperdal may have inferior effects
when compared to clozapine"
According to new data, once an effective dose has been reached Zyprexa and
Risperdal have been shown to have inferior results in terms of anti-aggressive
effects compared to clozapine. Published in the April 2004 issue of the Journal
of Clinical Psychopharmacology, the study showed that the clinical efficacy
of clozapine increased as the Total Aggression Severity score, the weighted
scores of all incidents added together from randomized testing, increased, but
with Zyprexa and Risperdal the opposite occurred.
March 10 , 2004
Government may investigate Zyprexa promotions
Eli Lilly and Co. is already under federal investigation for possible improper
marketing of an osteoporosis drug, but now, the government may also look into
the way Zyprexa antipsychotic drug was promoted as well. The entire class of
neurological antipsychotic medications has attracted attention by regulators.
For Eli Lilly, a Zyprexa investigation could greatly affect the drug company.
Zyprexa has accounted for sales of $4.3 billion in 2003 alone, which is about
a third of overall sales at the company.
February 20 , 2004
Elderly warned of off-label Zyprexa use
Zyprexa's maker Eli Lilly & Co. announced it had warned doctors of using
Zyprexa schizophrenia treatment amongst elderly patients with dementia. A letter
was issued to U.S. doctors on January 15, 2004 to warn of increased risks of
death and stroke when elderly patients with dementia were prescribed Zyprexa.
The Zyprexa warning closely resembles the April 2003 Johnson & Johnson
warning for its schizophrenia drug Risperdal, which also warned of risks of
stroke among elderly patients with dementia. Public Citizen consumer group has
been very critical of the practice in prescribing schizophrenia drugs to treat
symptoms of dementia since it has never been approved to treat it.
Contained in the Zyprexa warning letter was the observation that 3.5% of elderly
patients with dementia being treated on Zyprexa in the trials died of all causes.
This figure is more than twice the death rate of patients taking placebos. Zyprexa
had global sales of $4.3 billion in 2003 alone, accounting for half of Lilly's
profits.
January 28, 2004
Diabetes Risk Increased by Antipsychotic Drugs?
A widely prescribed class of antipsychotic drugs increases the risk of diabetes,
warned a group of four prominent medical organizations. Their statement seconds
the concerns of US regulators and researchers.
A statement published in the February issue of Diabetes Care by The American
Diabetes Association, American Psychiatric Association, American Association
of Clinical Endocrinologists, and the North American Study of Obesity affirms
that a number of health risks are associated with a certain group of antipsychotics.
Atypical antipsychotics may increase the risk of obesity, diabetes, and high
cholesterol, three conditions which also contribute to heart disease. The Food
and Drug Administration told manufacturers in 2003 to include these risks on
product labels, but few companies complied.
Atypical antipsychotics are prescribed for a number of mental illnesses, including
schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, dementia, psychotic depression, autism, and
developmental disorders. The drugs generate over $8 billion annually.
There are six major anti-psychotic medications: Novartis AG's Clozaril, Johnson
& Johnson's Risperdal, Eli Lilly & Co.'s Zyprexa, AstraZeneca Pic's
Seroquel, Pfizer Inc.'s Geodon, and Bristol Myers Squibb Co.'s Abilify. Of these,
Zyprexa and Clozaril carry the largest risk of weight fain, diabetes, and lipid
disorders, according to the statement.
Zyprexa is often prescribed by doctors because it usually has fewer side effects
(such as tremors and sedation) than other drugs in this category. Clozaril is
also a popular drug, but carries an additional serious risk: a potentially life-threatening
side effect stemming from reduction in the number of white blood cells.
Physicians should consider using the other drugs"Seroquel, Geodon, and
Abilify, until the issue has been clarified," claims Norman Sussman, professor
of psychiatry at the New York University School of Medicine.
Manufacturers claim that there is no clear link between their drugs and diabetes,
and that the benefits of using these medications outweigh any potential side
effects.
January 27, 2004
"Lilly voices disagreement with American Diabetes Association
panel"
In September 2003, the FDA decided Zyprexa labeling changes needed to be made.
This decision was the result of a multi year review of all available data, including
case reports, epidemiologic studies, and clinical trial data. The new Zyprexa
labeling warns of diabetes risks that have surfaced amongst second-generation
antipsychotics like Zyprexa. The American Diabetes Association issued an option
paper regarding the diabetes risk, which Lilly does not agree with. Lilly is
worried the paper does not acknowledge the benefits Zyprexa does have.
January 25, 2004
"Zyprexa trial puts the rights to the most lucrative drug in history
on the line"
A patent infringement case has finally made its way to trial after nearly three
years. The case involves Eli Lilly and Co. against three smaller drug companies
in order to determine if the defendants will be able to sell generic versions
of Lilly's blockbuster hit antipsychotic drug Zyprexa. Zyprexa bring in around
$4 billion of sales a year worldwide. Diabetes links have been made with the
use of Zyprexa, in addition to a higher incidence of pancreatitis.
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