Mississippi will receive $18.5 million as part of a settlement with drug maker Eli Lilly. Mississippi was joined by 13 other states in lawsuits against Eli Lilly stemming from the company's alleged promotion of the drug Zyprexa for non-FDA approved uses. The state spent money on the drug through Medicaid and its state insurance plan.

Eli Lilly settles with Miss. for $18M after claims company misrepresented Zyprexa uses

SHELIA BYRD Associated Press Writer

February 4, 2010

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood says the state is receiving $18.5 million as part of a settlement with drug maker Eli Lilly & Co.

Mississippi is one of 13 states that sued the drug maker over claims the company promoted the use of Zyprexa for ailments that the drug was not federally approved to treat.

Hood said Thursday that the settlement recovers money spent on the anti-psychotic drug by Medicaid and the state insurance plan. Zyprexa has been Lilly's top-selling drug for several years.

The company has said it admits no wrongdoing in the settlement.

In January, Lilly reported Zyprexa had double-digit sales growth to $1.36 billion in the fourth quarter.

SOURCE The Associated Press/The Los Angeles Times

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