The US Supreme Court on Monday ruled in favour of Eli Lilly and rejected an appeal that sought to revive a class-action lawsuit brought by insurers and other benefits providers over Zyprexa (olanzapine). The plaintiffs had sought $6.8 billion on behalf of these plaintiffs.

In the case, the plaintiffs alleged that Eli Lilly violated federal racketeering laws by misrepresenting the safety and efficacy of the antidepressant and promoting it for off-label indications.

 Previously, a court of appeals ruled that a trial judge was wrong to allow the class action to proceed because the plaintiffs’ claims failed to demonstrate a direct link between the prices they paid for the drug and the company’s alleged marketing misrepresentations. However, the Supreme Court refused to overturn the initial ruling without comment.

In 2009, Eli Lilly pled guilty and agreed to pay criminal and civil penalties to settle charges brought by federal prosecutors who accused the company of marketing Zyprexa for unapproved uses.