Risperdal Whistleblower Claims That J&J Used Compensation Plan to Promote Risperdal For Off-Label Usage
According to NJ.com, a former Johnson & Johnson sales representative who served as a whistleblower and helped the U.S. government secure a $2.2 billion settlement over the manufacturer’s off-label marketing of Risperdal said sales of the anti-psychotic medicine accounted for 70% of employee bonuses.
The website reported that Judy Doetterl claimed that the manufacturer marketed Risperdal, and two other drugs for off-label uses, paying kickbacks to doctors and pharmacists who helped boost sales. Last year, during a settlement, J&J pleaded guilty to misbranding the drugs.
Doetterl worked in North Carolina for three years, promoting Risperdal for on-label uses to psychiatrists before moving to the ElderCare division in Buffalo, according to NJ.com. The website reported that she was then asked to sell Risperdal for dementia patients, working under a compensation plan that paid her for off-label sales.
Risperdal is an antipsychotic drug used to treat schizophrenia and manic states often associated with bipolar disorder. It has been linked to rashes, hyperprolactinaemia, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, agitation, anxiety, as well as stroke and seizures.
Outside of the $2.2 billion court settlement associated with criminal charges last year, J&J agreed to pay $181 million in 2012 to 36 states after it was accused of promoting the drug for unapproved uses. The company also settled hundreds of lawsuits in 2012 from men who claimed that the drug caused them to grow additional breast tissue.
If you have been injured or are suffering because you took a dangerous drug like Risperdal, we can help you. Contact our experienced mass tort and defective medical device lawyers by calling toll-free (888)841-9623 today.
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Source: http://www.nj.com/business/index.ssf/2013/12/johnson_johnson_risperdal_whis.html