Hawaii Court Orders Drug Companies to Pay $916 Million in Plavix Blood Thinner Lawsuit

HONOLULU—A Hawaii court has ordered the manufacturers and distributors of the blood thinner Plavix to pay the state a combined $916 million after finding the companies failed to disclose the efficacy and safety of the medication, the state attorney general said Tuesday. The judgment was issued against Bristol Myers Squibb Company and three U.S.–based subsidiaries of French pharmaceutical company Sanofi. Bristol Myers Squibb and Sanofi said in a joint statement they disagreed with the penalty and plan to appeal. First Circuit Court Judge James Ashford found that there was a risk that about 30 percent of patients, particularly non-Caucasians, might have a “diminished response” to Plavix but the companies didn’t update their label, Attorney General Anne Lopez said....