The class action lawsuit against Risperdal, a drug used to treat schizophrenia, has been settled. The suit claims the medication caused thousands of people who took the drug to develop diabetes and other metabolic disorders.
The “risperdal lawsuit update 2021” is a lawsuit that was filed against Risperdal, the drug that has been linked to an increased risk of developing autism. The lawsuit is still ongoing.
(This page was last updated on December 7, 2017)
Risperdal, a drug manufactured by Johnson & Johnson/Janssen Pharmaceuticals, was licensed by the FDA for use in children and adolescents for the first time in 2006. However, Johnson & Johnson (J&J) marketed the medicine to teenagers years before it was approved for use in minors, with disastrous results.
Risperdal (risperidone) may lead to the development of feminine breast tissue in young males, a condition known as gynecomastia. Thousands of people have filed lawsuits.
Risperdal (risperidone), an antipsychotic medicine, may cause young males to develop feminine breast tissue, a condition known as gynecomastia.
Worse, despite physicians’ requests, Johnson & Johnson did not improve Risperdal labelling to include a warning about the possibility of gynecomastia. J&J allegedly knew about gynecomastia risks but falsified data and concealed important information from the FDA. J&J was fined $2.2 billion by the US Justice Department in 2013 for unlawfully selling Risperdal.
More than 18,000 individuals have filed claims against J&J/Janssen throughout the nation, saying that the medicine producers were aware of the gynecomastia dangers but failed to notify patients. Many of these instances have resulted in multimillion-dollar settlements. Andrew Yount, the plaintiff in one such case, just received $70 million.
Risperdal has been linked to gynecomastia in studies.
Gynecomastia is caused by a hormonal imbalance, and it may result in the development of male breasts as well as considerable weight gain. Risperdal is thought to produce gynecomastia in certain young male users because it raises prolactin levels, which encourages female breast growth and breastfeeding.
Risperidone should be used with care in young individuals, according to the research.
A 2006 research by a Duke psychiatrist discovered a substantial correlation between Risperdal and gynecomastia in children and adolescents, which drew attention to the Risperdal-gynecomastia link. When risperidone is given to teenagers for psychotic symptoms, the medicine raises prolactin levels, which may lead to gynecomastia, according to the findings.
Another 2006 research on risperidone and gynecomastia came to the same result, stating that the drug should be used with care in young individuals.
A more recent research published in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology concluded that risperidone usage and gynecomastia in young adult men are linked. Children and adolescents who used risperidone had a five-fold increased risk of gynecomastia as compared to non-users. The research specifically mentions gynecomastia’s “severe psychological burden.”
Did J&J Ignore the Risk of Gynecomastia?
J&J’s understanding of Risperdal’s gynecomastia adverse effects has sparked debate.
J&J was able to refute suggestions of a causal relationship between Risperdal and gynecomastia by manipulating statistics.
According to a Huffington Post investigation, Janssen attended a conference in 2002 where it addressed evidence causally tying Risperdal to high gynecomastia rates (a statistically significant 4.5 percent ). The Janssen group opted to skew the figures by deleting data from children above the age of 10, who were expected to be going through puberty, in order to “re-analyze” the issue data. The readjusted data revealed a statistically insignificant 0.8 percent incidence of gynecomastia.
In summary, J&J was able to refute accusations of a major causal association between Risperdal and gynecomastia by manipulating data.
According to Bloomberg, former FDA Commissioner David Kessler testified in a Risperdal gynecomastia case that Janssen knew the medicine was “probably or very probable” to cause gynecomastia as early as 2001. The discovery was dubbed “a red flag” by Kessler.
According to New Brunswick Today, a J&J scientist who worked closely with Risperdal testified during the litigation that the same alarming evidence that a J&J group had worried about in 2002—the data that revealed a significant Risperdal-gynecomastia link—was never given to the FDA.
Risperdal was pushed by J&J for off-label uses.
Although Janssen may have been aware of the Risperdal-gynecomastia link as early as 2001, the federal government claims that starting in 1999, the company actively advertised the medicine to child psychiatrists and others who treat children.
The Justice Department ordered J&J to pay a $2.2 billion Risperdal settlement in 2002, making it one of the biggest pharmaceutical settlements in American history. Off-label marketing and paying payments to physicians and pharmacists who marketed Risperdal and other medications were among the allegations leveled against J&J.
According to the Justice Department, Janssen allegedly promoted Risperdal for use in children and individuals with mental disabilities from 1999 to 2005, despite knowing that Risperdal posed “certain health risks to children, including the risk of elevated levels of prolactin, a hormone that can stimulate breast development,” as part of an investigation into J&J over a variety of off-label Risperdal uses.
Janssen sales agents phoned child psychiatrists and other child mental health practitioners to market Risperdal as a safe and effective therapy for a variety of illnesses, including ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder, OCD, and autism, according to the federal government.
In the sample Risperdal shipments, Janssen included sweets and toys. By the year 2000, children and teenagers made up more than a fifth of Risperdal users. According to the Wall Street Journal, J&J also contributed to an academic center aimed at reducing juvenile Risperdal usage.
Risperdal was not approved for use in children by the FDA until 2006. Previously, the regulator has advised J&J against advertising it to minors.
The Huffington Post is the source of this image.
The United States Supreme Court declined to hear J&J’s appeal of a South Carolina judgment ordering Janssen to pay a $124 million penalty for its illegal marketing activities in January 2016.
Janssen agreed to a $15.5 million settlement with the Kentucky Attorney General in April 2016 for the company’s failure to warn about the dangers of gynecomastia and its off-label marketing tactics.
But for J&J, this is chump change. Johnson & Johnson generated an estimated $18 billion in domestic Risperdal earnings in 2015, plus $10 billion in international Risperdal sales, by effectively extending Risperdal’s usage to youngsters and the elderly.
Is Risperdal Subject to a Recall?
Despite evidence that it causes gynecomastia, Risperdal was never taken off the market. The J&J Risperdal patent lapsed in 2007, but the FDA authorized the first generic copies of the medicine in 2008. (risperidone). Risperidone generics and the Risperdal replacement, Invega, are still available.
Plaintiffs are awarded millions of dollars by juries.
In November 2015, the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas merged over 1,500 Risperdal gynecomastia cases as part of a mass tort. All of the claims claim that Risperdal induced gynecomastia in young males and that Janssen failed to warn users about the risk.
Since then, the number of lawsuits has risen to 18,000 people.
According to preliminary findings, certain Risperdal gynecomastia patients may be eligible for large compensation:
- In April 2015, a jury awarded $2.5 million to a young man who got size 44D breasts after using Risperdal. Janssen failed to adequately warn about Risperdal’s tendency to induce gynecomastia, according to the verdict.
- In November 2015, a jury awarded $1.75 million to a man who acquired gynecomastia while using Risperdal for schizophrenia in 2003.
- Another Risperdal plaintiff was granted $500,000 by a jury in December 2015 after he developed gynecomastia as well.
According to a Bloomberg News report, Janssen has put aside a significant sum to resolve the complaints.
Did Your Medication Cause You Any Side Effects?
If you or a loved one was injured by a drug’s unintended side effects, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the manufacturer. Medical costs, pain and suffering, lost pay, and other expenses may be covered by a lawsuit.
Only a trained attorney can tell you whether you fulfill the qualifying requirements. Contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation to see whether you have a case.
The “risperdal lawsuit update 2020” is a lawsuit against the drug Risperdal. The plaintiff alleges that the defendant failed to warn of side effects and has since been discontinued by its manufacturer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average payout for Risperdal lawsuit?
A: You can see the average payout for Risperdal lawsuit HERE.
How many people are in the Risperdal lawsuit?
A: There are between 100,000 and 400,000 people in the Risperdal lawsuit.
What is the lawsuit for Risperdal?
A: In 1997, Johnson & Johnson paid a $3 billion settlement for hiding the dangers of their Risperdal medication. The lawsuit was filed by people who were injured or died as a result of taking this medication.
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