Risperdal

Risperdal is a very strong antipsychotic drug which was first approved by the FDA in 1993 to be used for treatment of schizophrenia in adults. Previously filed lawsuits have accused Johnson & Johnson of also marketing Risperdal to physicians for children and adolescents with ADHD, which is what is termed “off label” prescribing. Now this medication has been linked to the development of gynecomastia in boys and young men. Gynecomastia is a condition that causes boys to grow breasts with, in some cases, surgical mastectomy being the remedy. While it isn’t illegal for a physician to prescribe a medication for a condition considered off label, a pharmaceutical manufacturer which promotes such uses can be held liable for damages incurred as a result.

On October 31, 2018, Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc. (a Johnson & Johnson company) lost its appeal for a new trial for a $2.5 million Risperdal verdict. The court determined that the plaintiff’s expert testimony was proper in eliminating other causes of the plaintiff’s breast growth. The appellate court did not over rule the lower court’s decision for punitive damages. The $2.5 million verdict proved that Janssen failed to adequately warn prescribing doctors that the drug can cause gynecomastia.