Jury Rules Against J&J Subsidiary in Risperdal Trial

Jurors have ruled against a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary in Arkansas' billion-dollar lawsuit over the antipsychotic drug Risperdal.

Arkansas contended Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc. downplayed and hid risks associated with Risperdal. Jurors returned their verdict in favor of the state on Tuesday afternoon.

Attorney Fletch Trammel said the company lied to doctors by saying the drug didn't cause weight gain, diabetes and other adverse side effects. Janssen attorney James Simpson said the state failed to show the drug's labeling or packaging was misleading, deceptive or false.

The state wants a minimum of $1.2 billion in fines for the 250,000 prescriptions issued under its Medicaid program over a 3 1/2-year period.

The penalty will be decided in a separate hearing before a judge.