West Virginia Gets a Share of Drug Settlement

Attorney General Patrick Morrisey says West Virginia will receive a $253,500 share of a settlement with Bristol-Myers Squibb involving allegations that it promoted the anti-psychotic drug Abilify for unapproved uses. Morrisey announced the state’s share of the $19.5 million settlement in a news release. Forty-two other states were involved in the legal action. Abilify is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder and Tourette’s disorder in adults and children. California alleged that Bristol-Myers Squibb promoted the schizophrenia drug for unapproved uses on children and for elderly patients with dementia.