In a blow to Johnson & Johnson, the company was ordered last Friday to pay $70 million to a male Tennessee teenager who claimed its Risperdal antipsychotic pill caused him to grow enlarged breasts. The finding by a Pennsylvania state court jury was not only the latest, but it is the biggest defeat to date in what has become another sprawling litigation over the drug.
In reaching its decision, the jury found that J&J failed to properly warn Risperdal could cause gynecomastia, which is the abnormal development of large mammary glands in males. Moreover, the jury also determined that the company “intentionally falsified, destroyed, or concealed records” that Risperdal could cause boys to develop breasts.
About the Author Reprints
I am preparing for a Tedx Talk and came across this article.
Risperdal was approved in 1993 for schizophrenia, not 2002. It was the first of the new second-generation antipsychotics. I know because I was the medical ad writer on it between 1996-1998.
“The cases have garnered attention for a couple of reasons. For one, J&J has a bad track record when it comes to marketing Risperdal, which was first approved in 2002 to treat schizophrenia.”
Lydia
The cases have garnered attention for a couple of reasons. For one, J&J has a bad track record when it comes to marketing Risperdal, which was first approved in 2002 to treat schizophrenia.
Hi Lydia,
Thanks for the note.
The FDA first approved the drug in 1993 to manage symptoms of psychiatric disorders and the labeling was revised in 2002 more specifically for treating schizophrenia. So I’ve updated the story to reflect that.
Regards
ed at pharmalot
Does anyone know anything about taking the medication before 2002?
I think that J&J knew what they was doing it was all about money with them so I think they need to pay the cause pain in people families in-life
I want too see the ceo put in prison for poisoning me with risperdal and now I live with a deformity and think of ending my suffering daily please help me and other victims will