J&J to Pay $2.2-Billion in Risperdal Settlement: Report

A published report says Johnson & Johnson has agreed to pay as much as $2.2 billion to resolve an investigation into its marketing of the anti-psychotic drug Risperdal.

Johnson & Johnson had been expected to resolve the investigation by paying about $2 billion, one of the largest-ever settlements over marketing of a prescription drug. The Wall Street Journal, which reported the settlement Thursday, says the settlement will include a $400 million criminal fine.

Johnson & Johnson and the U.S. Department of Justice both declined to comment.

The Justice Department has joined a whistleblower lawsuit alleging that a Johnson & Johnson division paid tens of millions of dollars in illegal kickbacks to a company that provided prescription drugs to nursing home patients in order to increase sales of Risperdal.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)