HONOLULU (AP) 鈥� 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 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 鈥渁re pleased to resolve this litigation, and to continue their companies鈥� focus on discovering, developing, and delivering innovative medicines to patients.鈥�
鈥淧lavix 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,鈥� 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 鈥渄iminished response鈥� 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 鈥渓andmark settlement鈥� and a 鈥渕ajor victory鈥� 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.
The Associated Press
