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eNCA
11-05-2025
- Business
- eNCA
BMS and Sanofi to pay Hawaii $700m to settle Plavix lawsuit
LOS ANGELES - US state Hawaii announced it had accepted a $700-million settlement in its case against US pharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) and subsidiaries of French drug group Sanofi over the blood thinner Plavix. The state alleged the companies misled consumers about the benefit of using the drug, in a case that has been in courts for more than a decade. "This landmark settlement is a major victory for the state of Hawaii," governor Josh Green said. "Once the money goes into our general fund, we can go to work on immediately identifying ways to enhance health care services for Hawaii's residents," he added. BMS and Sanofi have agreed to pay equal shares of the settlement by June 9, bringing an end to 12 years of litigation, according to legal filings. Per media reports, the pharma giants lost in court repeatedly and continually appealed. In 2021, a Hawaii court ordered the drugmakers to pay the state $834-million over their marketing claims, which the pharma giants vowed to appeal. In 2024, a Hawaii court again ordered them to pay the state $916-million, which they again vowed to appeal. "It doesn't matter if a company is a one-person shop or a multi-billion-dollar oil company, we will relentlessly enforce Hawaii's consumer protection laws," Anne Lopez, the state's attorney general, said. The state had pointed to results showing the treatment did not work well for some patients of Asian or Pacific Island descent who could not properly metabolise the drug.
Time of India
10-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Drug companies to pay Hawaii USD 700 million to settle Plavix blood thinner lawsuit
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Pharmaceutical companies have agreed to pay Hawaii USD 700 million to settle its lawsuit over the efficacy and safety of the blood thinner Plavix, the state attorney general's office has announced. A court ruling last year ordered Bristol Myers Squibb Company and three U.S.-based subsidiaries of French pharmaceutical company Sanofi to pay a combined USD 916 before an appeal was decided, a settlement was reached for the lower amount, the attorney general's office a joint statement on Friday, the companies said they "are pleased to resolve this litigation, and to continue their companies' focus on discovering, developing, and delivering innovative medicines to patients.""Plavix has helped millions of people with cardiovascular disease around the world for nearly 30 years and it continues to be endorsed as a first-line therapy by leading treatment guidelines across the globe," the statement Circuit Court Judge James Ashford found that there was a risk that about 30 per cent of patients, particularly non-Caucasians, might have a "diminished response" to Plavix but the companies did not update their labels, Attorney General Anne Lopez said last company has admitted Josh Green called it a "landmark settlement" and a "major victory" for the settlement divides the USD 700 million equally between Bristol Myers Squibb and Sanofi, with the funds to be paid by wire transfer by June 9, the attorney general's office said.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Drugmakers to pay Hawaii $700M to settle lawsuit over blood thinner
Hawaii will receive $700 million from pharmaceutical giants Bristol Myers Squibb and Sanofi in a landmark settlement over the blood thinner Plavix, Gov. Josh Green announced today—one of the largest payouts in state history. The settlement ends over a decade of litigation over the companies' failure to warn that Plavix was less effective or ineffective in Asian American, Pacific Islander and Native Hawaiian populations. The drug, which relies on liver enzyme activation, was prescribed more than 837, 000 times in Hawaii between 1998 and 2010. 'After nearly a decade of litigation … the state has reached a landmark settlement, ' Green said at a news conference this afternoon. 'It's a historic result that we're grateful for.' On May 21, 2024, in a decade-old case alleging unfair and deceptive practices against the makers of the drug Plavix, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Sanofi. Rather than continue through appeals, the parties agreed to the $700 million settlement announced today to ensure a faster payout. The agreement divides the total amount equally between Bristol-Myers and Sanofi, with the money scheduled to be paid via wire transfer by June 9, officials said. Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez said today that the result sends a message to corporations operating in the islands. 'The attorney general's office will be relentless in our pursuit of compliance with our consumer protection laws, ' she said. The state's lawsuit, filed in 2014 with the help of two private law firms, alleged that Bristol-Myers Squibb and Sanofi failed to disclose that their drug was less effective in patients with certain liver-enzyme mutations more prevalent in people of Asian and Pacific Islander descent representing up to 30 % of people who took the drug in Hawaii. After the 2024 award, officials with the drugmakers said in a statement that they strongly disagree with the court's penalty and that they would appeal the decision. 'The unprecedented penalties awarded in this case are unwarranted and out of proportion, ' the companies said. 'The overwhelming body of scientific evidence demonstrates that Plavix is a safe and effective therapy, regardless of a patient's race or genetics.' The case, closely watched nationwide, raised concerns over racial disparities in pharmaceutical efficacy and transparency. Green credited the Attorney General's Office and outside counsel, including attorney Rick Fried, for their role in securing the deal. 'It's been 13 years—we've been working on this two trials up to the Supreme Court and back. We were going back again, and we finally were able to work out this resolution, ' he said today. Officials say the funds will support public health and underfunded health services across the state. 'This result will help the people of Hawaii, ' Green said. The two companies began selling Plavix in 1998 as a better but more expensive alternative to aspirin for reducing heart attacks, strokes, blood clots and vascular death. In 2010, Bristol Myers Squibb and Sanofi were required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to add a 'black box ' warning on the label about diminished effectiveness for poor metabolizers of the drug with certain genes. The disclosure prompted the state's lawsuit. 13 Comments By participating in online discussions you acknowledge that you have agreed to the. An insightful discussion of ideas and viewpoints is encouraged, but comments must be civil and in good taste, with no personal attacks. If your comments are inappropriate, you may be banned from posting. Report comments if you believe they do not follow our. Having trouble with comments ? .
CBS News
10-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Hawaii secures $700 million settlement in lawsuit over blood-thinner Plavix
Pharmaceutical companies have agreed to pay Hawaii $700 million to settle its lawsuit over the efficacy and safety of the blood thinner Plavix, the state attorney general's office announced Friday. A court ruling last year ordered Bristol Myers Squibb Company and three U.S.-based subsidiaries of French pharmaceutical company Sanofi to pay a combined $916 million. But before an appeal was decided, a settlement was reached for the lower amount, the attorney general's office said. In a joint statement, the companies said they "are pleased to resolve this litigation, and to continue their companies' focus on discovering, developing, and delivering innovative medicines to patients." "Plavix has helped millions of people with cardiovascular disease around the world for nearly 30 years and it continues to be endorsed as a first-line therapy by leading treatment guidelines across the globe," the statement added. First Circuit Court Judge James Ashford found that there was a risk that about 30% of patients, particularly non-Caucasians, might have a "diminished response" to Plavix but the companies did not update their labels, Attorney General Anne Lopez said last year. Neither company has admitted wrongdoing. Hawaii Gov. Josh Green called it a "landmark settlement" and a "major victory" for the state. The settlement divides the $700 million equally between Bristol Myers Squibb and Sanofi, with the funds to be paid by wire transfer by June 9, the attorney general's office said.
10-05-2025
- Business
Drug companies to pay Hawaii $700 million to settle Plavix blood thinner lawsuit
HONOLULU -- Pharmaceutical companies have agreed to pay Hawaii $700 million to settle its lawsuit over the efficacy and safety of the blood thinner Plavix, the state attorney general's office announced Friday. A court ruling last year ordered Bristol Myers Squibb Company and three U.S.-based subsidiaries of French pharmaceutical company Sanofi to pay a combined $916 million. But before an appeal was decided, a settlement was reached for the lower amount, the attorney general's office said. In a joint statement, the companies said they 'are pleased to resolve this litigation, and to continue their companies' focus on discovering, developing, and delivering innovative medicines to patients.' 'Plavix has helped millions of people with cardiovascular disease around the world for nearly 30 years and it continues to be endorsed as a first-line therapy by leading treatment guidelines across the globe,' the statement added. First Circuit Court Judge James Ashford found that there was a risk that about 30% of patients, particularly non-Caucasians, might have a 'diminished response' to Plavix but the companies did not update their labels, Attorney General Anne Lopez said last year. Neither company has admitted wrongdoing. Gov. Josh Green called it a 'landmark settlement' and a 'major victory' for the state. The settlement divides the $700 million equally between Bristol Myers Squibb and Sanofi, with the funds to be paid by wire transfer by June 9, the attorney general's office said.
