Ongoing litigation against the pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson (J&J) involves the allegations of improper and deceitful marketing of their antipsychotic drug, Risperdal. A Risperdal lawsuit being heard in the Philadelphia Common Pleas Court may take an interesting turn with the involvement of a former commissioner from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A recent article from Philly.com discusses the possibility that the former FDA commissioner will be called to testify against Johnson & Johnson in the Risperdal case.
This is not the first instance in which J&J’s Risperdal led to litigation and the possibility of former Commissioner David Kessler’s testimony. Johnson & Johnson settled an earlier case in 2012 before the commissioner was able to testify. Although he never testified in that case, his written report was states, “Janssen promoted Risperdal for non-approved uses in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The promotion of non-approved uses by a manufacturer, because it undercuts the system and safeguards of drug regulation, is concerning.” He was the commissioner of the FDA for a total of seven years from 1990 to 1997.
The Risperdal lawsuit specifically targets the pharmaceutical arm of Johnson & Johnson, known as Janssen.
Johnson & Johnson finds itself in court again after the settlement of a federal case over deceptive marketing of Risperdal cost the company about $2.2 billion. The current Risperdal lawsuit alleges Risperdal puts patients, specifically teenage boys, at risk for gynecomastia, a condition that causes males to develop breasts. The doctors who prescribed the medication claim that they were not made aware of the Risperdal risks and were thus unable to make fully informed decisions with their patients.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with gynecomastia following use of Risperdal, you should speak with a Risperdal lawyer to discuss your legal options. The pharmaceutical lawyers of Lopez McHugh can help you make sure that drug makers are held responsible for damages they may have caused. Contact a Lopez McHugh attorney today at (877) 737-8525 or fill out a contact form on our website for a free initial consultation.
