Johnson & Johnson is in hot soup after a man claimed that the company failed to warn young men using the antipsychotic drug - Risperdal - could grow breasts in men. The man also won a previous case in which he had sued the company for the same problem, according to Reuters.?
The company has to pay him Rs 56,963 crore.?The Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas jury¡¯s verdict came in the favour of Nicholas Murray - the man who sued the company. J&J said that the awarded penalty was grossly disproportionate and the company is confident that it will be overturned.?It also added that the jury had not allowed to hear evidence in Risperdal¡¯s benefits.
AP
Professor Carl Tobias of Richmond School of Law said that he expects the punitive damages to be lowered on appeal. Tobias said that the verdict was about sending a message. He added that the verdict could be a sign that J&J will face more large damages.
In his lawsuit, Murray, alleged that he developed breasts after his doctors began prescribing him Risperdal in 2003, after a psychologist diagnosed him with autism spectrum disorder. Doctors are allowed to prescribe medicines as they seem fit, while companies are only allowed to promote their drugs for approved uses.?
It remains to be seen if the company will actually end up paying the said amount.