Court: Company must pay SC $136 million over drug marketing

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina’s high court says a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary should pay the state $136 million over deceptive drug marketing of an anti-psychotic drug.

The ruling from the state Supreme Court reduced by more than half the original penalties levied against Janssen Pharmaceutica by a Spartanburg County jury.

In 2011, a trial court ordered the drugmaker to pay $327 million, saying Janssen broke the law by downplaying to doctors the links between diabetes and Risperdal and by improperly claiming the drug was safer than competing medications.

Company attorneys argued the award should be overturned, saying Janssen meant no harm and hurt no one.

Attorney General Alan Wilson’s office said he is pleased with the decision. Drug company representatives did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

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