STAT+: Bristol Myers and Sanofi ordered to pay $834 million to Hawaii for withholding Plavix label
After years of litigation, a Hawaii court judge ordered Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY) and Sanofi (SNY) to pay $834 million for deliberately withholding information about the effectiveness of the Plavix blood thinner in East Asian and Pacific Islander individuals, who constitute roughly half of Hawaii’s population.
In a 2014 lawsuit filed by the state, the drug makers were accused of minimizing and concealing trial data and other information showing Plavix was only as effective — or in some cases — less effective than aspirin in treating those patient groups, and that the blood thinner had a higher chance of causing gastrointestinal bleeding. The state also contended the companies knew or should have known Plavix had no effect or a diminished effect on 30% of patients.
