Johnson & Johnson drug lawsuit: US court slashes $8 billion verdict

A Pennsylvania court reportedly slashed an $8 billion ruling to $6.8 million against US pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson as company failed to warn that a psychiatric drug could cause breast growth in men. According to international media reports, back in October 2019, jury h ordered company and its subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals to pay damages after plaintiff Nicholas Murray told court that drug Risperdal h me him grow breasts and J&J failed to properly warn of risk. 

company h reportedly asked for amount to be reduced and argued that y were excessive and disproportionate to $680,000 in compensatory damages awarded to Murray. While speaking to an international media outlet, a spokesperson form J&J said that although court appropriately reduced excessive punitive damages award, company is still going to pursue with an appeal of verdict. pharmaceutical company also said that it h appropriately outlined benefits and risks of antipsychotic drug. 

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Murray, a Maryland resident, earlier reportedly claimed that he h been prescribed drug back 2003, when he was 9, to treat symptoms related to autism. His lawyer, Thomas Kline in an email also reportedly said that ruling was wrong as it wipes out a valid award of a jury and fails to punish corporate misconduct. He furr also believes that when merits are reviewed $8 billion will be reinstated. 

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J&J denies claims

According to reports, company is facing a series of complaints in state courts for failing to properly warn of Risperdal's side effects, including in Pennsylvania, California and Missouri. $8 billion verdicts h also been biggest to date among lawsuits by about 13,000 plaintiffs alleging that Risperdal caused a condition called gynecomastia in boys. lawsuits reportedly also state that company was aware of risk of side effect, but it still understated risk to doctors. J&J h denied all claims and said that it was precluded from presenting a meaningful defence due to court's exclusion of key evidence. 

(With inputs from agencies)

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