Hawaii secures $700 million settlement in lawsuit over blood-thinner Plavix

Pharmaceutical companies have agreed to pay Hawaii $700 million to settle its lawsuit over the efficacy and safety of the blood thinner Plavix, the state attorney general's office announced Friday.

A court ruling last year ordered Bristol Myers Squibb Company and three U.S.-based subsidiaries of French pharmaceutical company Sanofi to pay a combined $916 million.

But before an appeal was decided, a settlement was reached for the lower amount, the attorney general's office said.