Risperdal is an antipsychotic drug that has brought in big money for Johnson & Johnson.

Not content to focus on the market for individuals with schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders involving psychosis, Johnson & Johnson branched out marketing efforts to include the elderly and young boys as well.

In the elderly, Risperdal can reportedly cause stokes that may lead to permanent damage and even death. In boys, Risperdal can lead to a condition called gynecomastia. Gynecomastia causes male breast growth, and can result in boys and young men developing breasts up to a reported size 46DD.

Despite the fact that Risperdal wasn’t approved for the elderly and Johnson & Johnson’s own test showed 5.5 percent of boys taking the drug developed gynecomastia, the drug maker continued to market the drug to those populations. The marketing paid off, and Risperdal raked in billions for the pharmaceutical giant.

New York Times Columnist Nicholas Kristof asserted in a recent opinion piece that “crime pays, if you’re a major corporation.” To illustrate his point, he mentioned that Risperdal has garnered some $30 billion in worldwide sales since its 1994 release.

Johnson & Johnson hasn’t completely gotten off the hook. The company was found guilty of manipulating data on male breast development and concealing it from the public.

As a result, the company has paid more than $2 billion in penalties and settlements, but that is merely a slap on the wrist compared to their overall revenue from the drug, Kristof says.

Risperdal Marketing 

When Johnson & Johnson decided to market Risperdal to the elderly suffering from dementia as well as children diagnosed with autism, part of their marketing campaign targeted doctors by paying “consulting fees,” in exchange for the doctors prescribing the drug.

Dollars for Docs maintains a public database outlining how much doctors earn from various drug companies, which companies have the biggest payouts, how much doctors earn in each state and more.

According to Kristof, when you consider that doctors earn financial incentives for prescribing drugs, you begin to question if they have your best interest at heart.

Johnson & Johnson also targeted lobbyists in Texas with the goal of getting the state to use Risperdal exclusively instead of generic alternatives.

For state-funded medical programs, the state began paying $3,000 a month for each Medicaid patient taking the drug, rather than the $250 a year for the market alternative Texas was previously paying.

The federal government and state (supported by taxpayer money) fund Medicaid and related services and now for a single drug, it costs 12 times more than a comparable generic version.

When punishment is minimal, like a small dip in profits for Johnson & Johnson, there is no real incentive to change, Kristof writes. People desperate for help and unaware of alternatives blindly trust their doctors and by extension, the pharmaceutical companies. It is usually not until something significant and negative happens that most people will question the bigger picture, he adds.

Risperdal Lawsuit Information

Some consumers affected by the Risperdal side effects are taking legal action and demanding increased transparency as they attempt to hold the pharmaceutical companies accountable for the drugs they manufacture and market.

If you or a loved one has suffered from Risperdal side effects such as male breast growth, nipple discharge, painful breasts, or Risperdal-induced stroke, you may have a legal claim. Our attorneys can provide you with a free consultation to discuss your options.