Rockoff, J. D. & Lublin, J. S. (2013, May 10). J&J Balks on Deal to Settle U.S. Probe The Wall Street Journal, p. B1, B2. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304441404577478803503320464.html
[Excerpted] Johnson and Johnson and the Justice Department are close to settling a protracted investigation into the company's promotion of the antipsychotic Risperdal, for what would be one of the highest sums to date in a drug-marketing case, according to people familiar with the matter.
Majia here: J&J are the Justice Department are negotiating a payment of $1.5 billion minimum as a result of "illegal marketing" of drugs, especially Risperdal, another anti-psychotic called Invega, and the heart drug Natrecor. They are also accused of illegal kickbacks to Omnicare:
"J&J would avoid a felony charge that could prevent the health-products giant from selling its medicines to government health programs like Medicare, one person said."
Majia here: Apparently, J&J is a company without any scruples. They are the worst kind of parasites because they peddle drugs that can actually harm patients.
Risperdal is a dangerous drug that J&J marketed for off-label use in children, until approved for children by the equally corrupt FDA in 2007.
Dr. Joseph Biederman, a child psychiatrist at Harvard University, promoted use of the bipolar diagnosis for children, received $1.4 million in outside income from J&J (Harris “Research Center”).
The 40 percent increase in bipolar diagnoses in children and adolescents from 1994 to 2003 led to a fivefold increase in prescription rates for powerful antipsychotics, particularly Risperdal (generic risperidone) and similar agents (Carey “Bipolar”; Harris “Use of Antipsychotics”).
The WSJ article above (i.e., "J&J Balks") explains that in 2007 Risperdal was J&J's top selling product because it had been so extensively marketed for almost every psychiatric and neurological condition that exists, ranging from anxiety to autism, biopolar disorder to Alzheimer's. In 2007 J&J lost its patent, losing its monopoly of the then $2.2 billion in sales of the product.
Years ago I had all kinds of so-called physicians and child psychiatrists recommend Risperdal for my son. I read the experimental findings and said NO WAY would I ever put my kid on that drug.
The weight gain for a kid on Risperdal is 20 to 30 pounds a year.
Apparently, J&J Scum were well aware that Risperdal stimulates the hormone prolactin. Massive weight gain is a side effect, as is breast development in males.
The US Prosecutors want J&J to admit in its settlement that it played down risks from increased prolactin production. J&J doesn't want to do that because it will open the company to lawsuits.
I say the US Prosecutors need to stand firm on this one. J&J is a fallen company that deserves no mercy for endangering children.
RESOURCES
Carey, Benedict. “Bipolar Illness Soars as a Diagnosis for the Young.” The New York Times 4 September 2007. 4 September 2007 www.nytimes.com/2007/09/04/health/04psych.html.
Harris “Research Center Tied to Drug Company.” The New York Times 24 November 2008. 24 November 2008 http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/25/health/25psych.html.
Harris. “Use of Antipsychotics in Children is Criticized.” The New York Times 19 November 2008. 19 November 2008 http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/19/health/policy/19fda.html.
Harris, Gardiner, and Carey, Benedict. (2008, June 8). “Researchers Fail to Reveal Full Drug Pay.” The New York Times 8 June 2008. 8 June 2008
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High levels of prolactin are associated with autoimmune diseases such as arthritis and lupus:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20578590
It also leads to cancer:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23565377
Autistic subjects have too much serotonin. They are not psychotic. Risperidone leads to serotonin syndrome. It is incredible that this drug is being given to autistic children.