Zyprexa is the brand name of the drug olanzapine. It is in the class of
drugs called "atypical anti psychotics."
What is Zyprexa used for?
In 1996 the FDA approved Zyprexa for the treatment of schizophrenia and in
2000 for the treatment of bipolar disorder. It is also prescribed off label for
the treatment of:
psychotic disorder patients
Alzheimer's disease
personality disorders conduct
disorders
severe aggression in children
depression
Zyprexa was looked upon as a breakthrough drug in the treatment of
schizophrenia and indeed it has brought relief to thousands of patients and
their families. It was thought to have far fewer side effects than the older
anti-psychotics and it treated the full spectrum of symptoms from which
schizophrenic patients suffered.
Is it a profitable drug?
Zyprexa is the third most popular drug in the world. Eli Lilly, its
manufacturer, makes 2.6 billion dollars a year from its sales worldwide and it
accounts for about one third of Eli Lilly's income.
Why the lawsuit?
In 2002 the Japanese and the British issued warnings about Zyprexa and its
association with diabetes. The British Medical Journal found that Zyprexa posed
a serious Zyprexa related risk. In 2002 Duke
University also found a link
between Zyprexa and diabetes and also found that of the 300 people with
diabetes they had discovered, 23 died as a result of diabetes complications.
Both studies found links between Zyprexa and diabetes, ketoacidosis,
hyperglycemia, and pancreatitis. In September of 2003, the FDA ordered the
addition of an official Zyprexa warning to all patient product information.
The lawsuit
On April 16, 2004, a
class action suit was filed against Eli Lilly for relief for patients who had
taken Zyprexa and subsequently suffered from diabetes or its complications. It
also sought relief for those who had or were taking Zyprexa and had no side
effects to pay for testing for diabetes and its complications. Eli Lilly said
that it had listed the risk of high blood sugar and diabetes since 1996. The
lawsuit contended that the company did not adequately warn about possible side
effects.
In June of 2005, Eli Lilly settled 75% of the lawsuits against it with a
payout of 690 million dollars. It did not admit any wrong doing on its part but
said it didn't want to get bogged down in continuous and complicated litigation.