Eli Lilly to Pay $17M|on Zyprexa Claims

(CN) - Eli Lilly agreed to pay more than $17 Million to settle false advertising and consumer fraud claims filed by the state of Minnesota over its anti-psychotic drug, Zyprexa.

Minnesota accused the drug giant of marketing Zyprexa for off-label uses while hiding known side-effects, like diabetes, cardiovascular disease and weight gain.

The company agreed to pay Minnesota more than $17 million, but did not admit any wrongdoing. That amount is in addition to the record $1.4 billion it paid the Department of Justice in 2009 to settle claims that it illegally marketed the drug.

The current agreement prohibits Eli Lilly from making false claims about Zyprexa, from recommending the drug for off-label uses and from promoting the drug using "patient profiles/types based on selected symptoms of the FDA-approved indications(s)."

It also requires the company to clearly state the drug's approved uses in advertising.

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