Janssen Pharmaceuticals to pay Hawaii $2.7M over deceptive ad claims

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - As part of the largest multi-state settlement with a pharmaceutical company, the Office of Consumer Protection says Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. will pay Hawaii nearly $2.7 million in settlement claims.

Hawaii joined 35 other states and the District of Columbia in reaching the record $180 million settlement.

In a suit filed Thursday by the Office of Consumer Protection, the State alleged that Janssen improperly marketed the antipsychotic drugs Risperdal, Risperdal Consta, Risperdal M-Tab and Invega.

Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a subsidiary of Johnson and Johnson.

"Consumers in Hawaii have the right to expect that their health and well-being -- not profit -- drives decisions about their care," Executive Director of the Office of Consumer Protection Bruce Kim said. "This settlement protects consumers and stops unscrupulous marketing practices."

After an extensive four-year investigation, Janssen agreed to change how it promotes and markets its atypical antipsychotics. The company also agreed to refrain from any false, misleading or deceptive promotion of the drugs.

"Promoting drugs for unapproved, off-label uses is a potentially deadly practice that can threaten patients' lives. This settlement will make drug manufacturers like Janssen think twice before exposing innocent patients to unacceptable risks," Kim said.

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