*

Defendants allegedly hid Plavix's ineffectiveness for some

patients

*

Bristol Myers, Sanofi settled similar Hawaii claims for

$700

million

*

Companies say Plavix is safe and effective

*

Paxton has sued other drugmakers, is running for US Senate

(Adds Bristol Myers and Sanofi comment, accusations, other

lawsuits, Paxton running for Senate, byline)

By Jonathan Stempel

Nov 20 (Reuters) - Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton

sued Bristol Myers Squibb ( BMY ) and Sanofi on

Thursday, accusing the drugmakers of failing to disclose

that Plavix, which is used to prevent blood clots, does not work

effectively for many patients.

In a complaint filed in a state court in Harrison

County, Texas, Paxton said the drugmakers knew or should have

known since 1998 that Plavix had "diminished effect" on Black,

Asian and Pacific Islander patients, but no warning was added to

the blood thinner's label until 2010.

Paxton said the lack of disclosure caused patients to be

prescribed "substantially inadequate or inappropriate"

medication that left them at greater risk of heart attacks or

strokes.

The lawsuit seeks civil fines and other damages for

alleged violations of the Texas Health Care Program Fraud

Prevention Act.

"At bottom, defendants prioritized profits even if that

meant putting patients' lives at risk," Paxton said in the

complaint.

In a joint statement, Bristol Myers and Sanofi said they

will vigorously defend against Paxton's lawsuit.

"The overwhelming body of scientific evidence demonstrates

that Plavix is a safe and effective therapy, regardless of a

patient's race or genetics," the companies said.

The companies reached a $700 million settlement of

similar claims by Hawaii in May. Bristol Myers is based in

Princeton, New Jersey, and Sanofi is based in Paris.

Plavix's chemical name is clopidogrel.

Paxton has often turned to the courts to battle the

pharmaceutical industry.

Last month he sued Tylenol maker Kenvue ( KVUE ) in a state

court in Panola County, adjacent to Harrison County and

bordering Louisiana, though a judge rejected his request for

greater disclosures about the painkiller as well as a dividend

freeze.

On Wednesday, Paxton announced a $41.5 million

settlement with Pfizer ( PFE ) over alleged quality control

lapses in Quillivant XR, which treats attention deficit

hyperactivity disorder in children.

Paxton is running for the U.S. Senate in 2026 and is

expected to face incumbent Senator John Cornyn in the Republican

primary.