J&J ordered to pay $1.1 billion in Risperdal lawsuit
Johnson & Johnson has been ordered to pay $1.1 billion concerning claims by the state of Arkansas that the company hid the health risks of the antipsychotic drug Risperdal from doctors and patients. The verdict is the drug company’s third consecutive loss in Risperdal lawsuits in state courts regarding the marketing of the drug.
Arkansas accused Johnson & Johnson of concealing the side effects of Risperdal, which can include extreme weight gain, high blood sugar and diabetes. The company was also accused of misleading the state’s Medicare program, causing it to overpay for Risperdal prescriptions.
Previous lawsuits filed by the states of Louisiana and South Carolina results in respective penalties of $258 million and $327 million levied against the company, as well as a settlement of $158 million in Texas. The U.S. Justice Department has also demanded that Johnson & Johnson pay $1.8 billion to resolve additional claims filed over Risperdal.