Many people in the country are pretty suspicious of big pharma companies and how they care little about their customers, and this Risperdal Lawsuit is a good example in answering the “Why?” in this context. It is once again about a drug called Risperdal, which was pushed way too much, even though there were known side effects of this. But nah, it still kept on selling, and now it is the children that are getting affected the most, and that’s why this case automatically becomes a big issue on its own.
Why Did People File Lawsuits?
To be honest, the very core claim of all these lawsuits that are piling up is a very serious reason among mostly boys and young men that they’re now too much embarrassed of. What? Well, it has a lot to do with the side effects of this drug being the man boobs aak breasts enlagment in the boys and young men. This side effect, called gynecomastia, can be quite painful and emotionally distressing, and it typically necessitates surgery. From the very start, the families went on to say that they were actually never informed about the risks beforehand.
Other than that, these lawsuits mainly talk about one specific point and that is the fact that this drug was given to children even before there was an official approval for its pediatric use. That’s the scary part.
How Did Risperdal Affect Children?
The drug company’s undisclosed research revealed that Risperdal may cause an increase in hormone levels associated with male breast development. Later evidence showed the company was aware of this risk in 2001, but it did not make a drug label warning until 2006.
Meanwhile, many children were given Risperdal, including those as young as five. In a number of instances, the boys grew breasts, which, in some cases, were a result of the medical condition known as gynecomastia and were permanent. This situation led to several families experiencing emotional trauma, medical treatment, and having to cope with the effects for a very long time.
Did the FDA Take Action?
Definitely, but the whole process was slow.
Back in 2003, the FDA issued a warning that elderly dementia patients are at a higher risk of death if they take drugs like Risperdal.
In 2005 the most forceful warning label for such a group was put on. Then in 2006, Risperdal got limited approval for children’s use.
Lawsuits mainly argued that the great majority of patients who had used the medication were exposed to it before the risk information was effectively communicated.
What Was Johnson & Johnson Accused Of?
The key charge against the company was that it did not adequately warn the doctors and patients about the dangers. Besides this, the District Attorneys also alleged that Johnson & Johnson had been promoting Risperdal for unapproved uses by the FDA, especially for kids and senior patients.
The court disclosed that the company knowingly promoted the drug even though it was aware of the risks. This was a significant factor in the subsequent lawsuits.
What Happened With the Government Investigation?
In 2013, Johnson & Johnson and the U.S. government reached a significant settlement. The company committed to paying more than $2.2 billion to settle charges that included illegal marketing of Risperdal in the period from 1999 through 2005.
It was the government’s contention that the company endangered patients in order to make more sales. The settlement ranks among the biggest pharmaceutical settlements in the history of the U.S.
Which Lawsuits Stood Out the Most?
There were a number of cases of individuals that attracted national attention.
In 2015, a jury awarded $2.5 million to a man who had developed gynecomastia as a result of taking Risperdal. In 2016, yet another case saw a $70 million award.
One of the best-known cases is the 2019 one, when a jury hit Johnson & Johnson with an $8 billion punitive damages award.
