$15.5 Million Risperdal Verdict for Kentucky Attorney General

On December 22, 2015, Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway announced that the ongoing consumer protection suit against pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson (“J&J”), over its anti-psychotic drug Risperdal, settled for $15.5 million.

Risperdal is a second-generation antipsychotic prescription drug that was initially approved by the FDA in 1993 to treat symptoms of psychotic disorders. In the early 2000s, the drug’s approval was more specifically designated to the treatment of schizophrenia in adults.

Conway alleged that J&J began to market Risperdal as safe and effective in children before the FDA approved companies to do so in 2007. Conway further argued that J&J intentionally misled consumers by failing to disclose serious potential side effects of the drug, including infertility in females and gynecomastia, the growth of male breast tissue.

While not admitting guilt, J&J agreed to pay damages of $15.5 million and under the settlement agreement, is prohibited from promoting Risperdal for non-FDA approved uses.

The case is: Commonwealth of Kentucky ex rel. Jack Conway, Attorney General v. Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Janssen Research & Development, LLC and Johnson & Johnson, Inc.

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