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Johnson & Johnson Ordered to Pay $2.5 Million in Risperdal Trial

Pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson was ordered to pay $2.5 million for damages resulting from its antipsychotic drug Risperdal. The case regarded the drug company’s failure to warn the parents of an autistic child of the risks associated with the drug.

“Again and again, we see that pharmaceutical companies will put a patient’s health at risk to fatten their bottom line,” commented Christopher Paulos, an attorney with the Levin Papantonio law firm who litigates product liability cases. “This case would seem to be more of the same from the companies; hiding the risks means greater profits.”

Risperdal carries with it a risk of hormonal imbalance and breast growth, which the company failed to disclose. The condition, known as gynecomastia, was actively downplayed and hidden, according to evidence entered at trial.

According to the Risperdal lawsuit, the young man, Austin Pledger, grew breasts after have been on Risperdal for approximately five years. Austin began his course of treatment in 2002 and the drug was not approved by the FDA for use in children until 2006.

At trial, ex-FDA commissioner  Dr. David Kessler stated that he believed Johnson & Johnson engaged in a conscious effort to to manipulate data and hide the link between their drug and gynecomastia.

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