Plaintiff Sues Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson Over Alleged Breast Cancer Risk Linked To Antipsychotic Medications

A personal injury lawsuit was filed seeking damages against Eli Lilly And Co (NYSE:LLY), Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) and Kaiser Permanente, alleging their antipsychotic medications Risperdal and Zyprexa, along with generic forms, contributed to the plaintiff developing breast cancer.

The plaintiff claims that the defendants failed to adequately warn about the serious health risks associated with their drugs, which were marketed and sold for a wide range of uses beyond their original psychiatric indications.

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Eli Lilly has manufactured, promoted and distributed Zyprexa since the drug received FDA approval in September 1996.

Both Zyprexa and Risperdal are categorized as second-generation, or atypical, antipsychotics.

Although introduced after 1990, these drugs are not necessarily safer or more effective than first-generation antipsychotics, according to the lawsuit filed last Monday.

The complaint further alleges that the drugmakers sought to expand their market by promoting these medications for milder conditions and off-label uses, such as treating attention deficit disorders in children, dementia in the elderly and mood stabilization.

Concerns about the connection between the defendants' drugs and breast cancer reportedly emerged early after their release.

These medications have been found to elevate prolactin levels—a hormone that, when abnormally increased, can result in hyperprolactinemia.

• This condition is linked to several health complications, including a higher risk of breast cancer.
• Despite early clinical trial warnings and subsequent epidemiological studies over the past two decades reinforcing the association, the lawsuit asserts that the defendants neither properly warned consumers nor accurately reported these risks.

Instead, the lawsuit claims, the companies actively downplayed the potential dangers by misrepresenting study results and omitting crucial information from drug labels.

Allegations state that rather than alerting the public, the companies prioritized profits, continuing to promote these costly drugs over older, safer and less expensive alternatives.

As a result, the defendants are accused of profiting billions while exposing consumers to what the lawsuit describes as a potent carcinogen and tumor promoter.

Price Action: LLY stock is down 1.85% at $868.22, and JNJ stock is up 0.21% at $154.90 at the last check on Monday.

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