Makarem & Associates Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Eli Lilly's Drug Zyprex®

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Makarem & Associates announced today that drug manufacturer Eli Lilly has been charged with wrongful death of 20 year old Cody Tadai who was prescribed Zyprexa®, a prescription drug used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

The lawsuit brought by the parents of Cody Tadai alleges that Eli Lilly knew that Zyprexa® causes patients taking the drug to have an increased risk of developing weight gain, diabetes, and hyperglycemia, but the drug manufacturer failed to adequately warn the medical community of dangerous risks and side effects of taking the drug. The lawsuit alleges that Eli Lilly knew that patients taking Zyprexa® had an increased risk of developing these potentially life threatening conditions more so than other drugs in its class, but nevertheless engaged in a deceptive marketing scheme to make the medical community believe that the side effects of Zyprexa® were no worse than any other drug.

The family alleges that after Cody Tadai died the Food and Drug Administration once again required Eli Lilly to change the Zyprexa® warning label to include language warning physicians that Zyprexa® has a greater association with increased blood glucose levels which cause diabetes than other drugs in its class. Cody Tadai was prescribed Zyprexa® in October, 2003 and was taking the drug until he died in March, 2007. The family alleges that Cody’s physician would have never prescribed Zyprexa® to Cody had the information on the current warning label been disclosed back when he was prescribing Zyprexa® to Cody.

On March 5, 2007, Cody Tadai died from diabetic ketoacidosis which the lawsuit alleges was caused by his years of taking Zyprexa®. The lawsuit alleges that 30,000 lawsuits have been brought against Eli Lilly relating to the serious side effects of Zyprexa® .

The lawsuit Tadai v. Eli Lilly, County of Los Angeles BC 379 020 is set for trial on November 30, 2009.

About Makarem & Associates APLC
Makarem & Associates APLC represents consumers in product liability and wrongful death cases. It is located in Los Angeles, CA. For more information visit http://www.makaremlaw.com.