J&J agrees to pay $181m to states for Risperdal marketing

Rebecca Aris

pharmaphorum

Johnson &amp, Johnson has agreed to pay $181 million to 36 US states to resolve claims that it improperly marketed its antipsychotic drugs Risperdal and Invega by promoting them for unapproved use. Risperdal treats symptoms of bipolar mania and schizophrenia.

J&amp,J’s pharmaceuticals subsidiary, Janssen, has been scrutinized for years over its promotion of Risperdal. Claims from state and federal authorities suggest that it promoted the drug for uses it did not have approval for, including dementia in elderly patients, bipolar disorder in children and adolescents, depression and anxiety.

Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware are among the states that will receive sums of money having filed complaints surrounding Rispredal and will get $8.4 million, $5.3 million, and $4.2 million, respectively. In addition, New York will receive $9 million.

Janssen used "unconscionable business practices and deception," claimed New Jersey Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa in a complaint, filed in Superior Court in Mercer County.

Although Janssen have agreed to pay 36 states and the District of Columbia, the statement they released admitted no wrong-doing.

"We have chosen this path to achieve a prompt and full resolution of these state claims and to ensure we continue to focus on our mission of providing medicines to meet the significant unmet needs of many people who suffer from mental illness."

Michael Yang, Janssen president, in a statement.

As part of the settlement, Janssen agreed not to make false or misleading claims about Risperdal and related drug Invega.