Idaho and Washington have joined with 36 other states in a $181 million settlement with Janssen Pharmaceuticals, resolving the states’ claims that Janssen improperly marketed the antipsychotic drugs Risperdal, Risperdal Consta, Risperdal M-Tab and Invega.
The states alleged that Janssen, a subsidiary of Johnson and Johnson, engaged in unfair and deceptive practices when it marketed Risperdal for off-label uses, targeting patients with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, depression, and anxiety. Those uses were not FDA-approved. Federal law prohibits pharmaceutical manufacturers from promoting their products for off-label uses, although physicians may prescribe drugs for those uses.
Under terms of the settlement, Janssen agreed to change how it promotes and markets its atypical antipsychotics and to refrain from any false, misleading, or deceptive promotion of the drugs. The settlement also restricts Janssen from promoting its atypical antipsychotic drugs for “off-label” uses that the FDA has not approved.
Idaho will receive $2.8 million as its share of the settlement, while Washington will get $4.6 million.
In agreeing to the settlement, Janssen Pharmaceuticals admitted no wrongdoing.
