Settlement amount: $1.5 to $2 billion
Year of settlement: pending
Drugs involved: The atypical antipsychotics Risperdal (risperidone) and Invega (paliperidone); the heart medication Natrecor (nesiritide)
Criminal charges filed? Yes
Both of J&J’s antipsychotic drugs were heavily marketed to child psychiatrists and doctors treating the elderly — again, despite the known risks and lack of evidence of benefit. The company hid data regarding the drugs’ link to weight gain and diabetes. In the 1990s, J&J also funded the writing of a set of national treatment guidelines, the Texas Medical Algorithm Project, that was intended as a broad model to help doctors provide evidence-based psychiatric care. At least two states adopted these guidelines, but they were not based on good data. A whistle-blower contended that the company actually paid state officials for preferred placement of J&J drugs in the guidelines. For example, the guidelines for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children included Risperdal; however, the FDA never approved Risperdal for the treatment of ADHD, nor is there any evidence that it helps children with the condition.