State plans lawsuit against drug firms

Welcome back, gentle reader (I give up. Ed.). Just the other day, I came across something, which has been picked up on by Pharmalot and Furious Seasons (and, no doubt, others). There's additional comment on both those blogs (links on the right of the page), if you would care to read on. It seems that there are more lawsuits heading the way of the Worshipful Company, this time in Arkansas. This from the Arkansas Democrat Gazette (http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/202128/ for the full story):

"...A letter [Arkansas Attorney General Dustin] McDaniel wrote to the [Legislative] council says “substantial evidence” exists to support a claim by the state for “improper and unlawful marketing” of anti-psychiotic drugs by Eli Lilly & Co. of Indianapolis; Janssen Pharmaceutica of Titusville, N. J.; and Astra Zeneca, an international company formed by the union of a United Kingdom firm and a Swedish firm.

The drugs in question are Zyprexa, Risperdal and Seroquel.

Officials with those companies didn’t return telephone messages left by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

McDaniel told reporters after the meeting that researchers have known since the 1950s that anti-psychotic drugs had serious side effects, including weight gain, hypoglycemia and Type II diabetes..."

"Improper and unlawful marketing." Oh, well, I suppose it's something. I do wonder, now, every time I see Eli's name, just how the drug came to be developed. Particularly given that reference to the 1950s. That's what secrecy does for you, I guess.

Incidentally, I note that the lovely Anne Milgram is considering joining a bunch of other states in bringing a similar action. Anne Milgram. She would be the Attorney General of New Jersey, where most of our friends in the Worshipful Company are based. Ouch! The very possibility of a home defeat! It warms the cockles of your heart!

Matt