Johnson & Johnson To Pay $2.2 Billion Over Drugs

johnson_johnson_2013CNN) — Health care manufacturer Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiaries will pay more than $2.2 billion to resolve criminal and civil investigations over allegations that they marketed three drugs for uses that were never approved, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said Monday in Washington.

The settlements also cover claims that the companies gave “kickbacks” to physicians and to nursing home pharmacies to promote the drugs’ usage.

The claims involve the drugs Risperdal, Invega and Natrecor.

Holder said Johnson & Johnson improperly marketed the drug Risperdal for treatment of psychotic symptoms in elderly, non-schizophrenic patients, even though the drug was approved only to treat schizophrenia.

Source: CNN