Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiaries, Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Janssen Research & Development LLC, are facing a wrongful death lawsuit alleging the company failed to warn that its antipsychotic drug Risperdal may be linked to an increased risk of breast cancer for decades.
The lawsuit was filed on December 31 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California by Destiny Owens, Yasmeen Owens, and Brandon Owens on behalf of themselves and the estate of Stacy R. Owens. The family claims that Risperdal’s hormonal effects led to Stacy Owens’ breast cancer diagnosis in 2012 and ultimately to fatal complications.
Risperdal (risperidone) is an atypical antipsychotic primarily prescribed to treat schizophrenia in adults. However, the drug has also been widely prescribed “off-label” to children with bipolar disorder, autism, irritability, aggression, and other behavioral disorders. Over the years, numerous lawsuits have claimed Risperdal caused hormonal imbalances such as gynecomastia (male breast growth) and increased breast cancer risk, which can result from elevated levels of the hormone prolactin—a condition known as hyperprolactinemia.
According to the Owens family, had Johnson & Johnson adequately warned patients and medical professionals about the potential cancer risk, Stacy Owens and her doctor would not have chosen Risperdal. The lawsuit asserts the company concealed known side effects to maintain broader usage and higher profits.
“Concerns over prolonged exposure to Defendants’ Drugs causing breast cancer arose as early as the drugs debuted. Specifically, Defendants’ Drugs cause elevated production of prolactin—a hormone produced by the pituitary gland, primarily to promote milk production after childbirth.” – Destiny Owens et al. v Johnson & Johnson et al.
The plaintiffs note that the connection between hyperprolactinemia and breast cancer has been recognized since the 1970s, and that atypical antipsychotics have been linked to this condition since the 1990s. The lawsuit further claims that Johnson & Johnson violated federal regulations by failing to report accurate safety information to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, limiting the drug’s warning label while promoting wider use.
The Owens family is seeking both compensatory and punitive damages. Their legal claims include failure to warn, general negligence, fraud, wrongful death, and survival action.
