Lilly has aggressively defended its actions. For example, it released a number of statements responding to the Times’ stories shortly after they appeared. However, until recently, Lilly has not responded online to critics like Daniel Hazard who have been using the Internet to attack the company.
Now Lilly is using the Web to fight back. It recently launched Zyprexa Facts.com to “give the public factual information about the legal issues that confront the [company].” Lilly says that it “stands by its science and its people . . . [and] will not allow the attacks to sway it from its mission to develop and offer medicines that make lives better.”
The site features FAQs on a number of subjects, including the Times’ allegations about its marketing practices and its decision to settle 18,000 Zyprexa-related claims against Lilly. According to Pharmaceutical Executive, Lilly’s efforts seem to be satisfying people in the mental health community.
Lilly says that it will update ZyprexaFacts.com, on a regular basis.
A big hurdle with the Zyprexa issue is Lilly's credibility over their continuous PR on how they are going to pay out $1.2 billion in damages.As long as they keep up this rhetoric and don't actually pay the issue won't go away.
Think about the need to 'put their money where their mouth is'.
Posted by: Daniel Haszard | January 21, 2007 1:41 PM | Permalink to Comment