The $70 million verdict a Philadelphia jury levied against Janssen Pharmaceuticals on July 1 may not survive challenges that it is excessive, but the award was a definitive win for the plaintiffs in the Risperdal mass tort litigation, attorneys who work in the pharmaceutical arena said.
A Philadelphia jury July 1 returned the award against Janssen and in favor of a boy who claimed the antipsychotic drug, Risperdal, led to excess growth of breast tissue. The plaintiffs in A.Y. v. Janssen Pharmaceuticals had argued that the company knew the medication caused the condition, but failed to properly inform the medical community, emphasizing potential profits for the drug over its safety.
