Drug firms argue against $1.2B Arkansas judgment

(AP)—A lawyer for two drug companies told the Arkansas Supreme Court that the state improperly relied on federal regulations in a lawsuit that resulted in a $1.2 billion award over the companies' marketing of an antipsychotics drug.

The state's countered during Thursday's hearing before the high court that Johnson & Johnson and a subsidiary were properly penalized for improper marketing of the drug Risperdal.

A Pulaski County jury ruled against the companies in 2012.

The companies also argued that the state brought the case under a Medicaid fraud law when there were no indications of improper reimbursements.

Sixty-five legislators filed a friend of the court brief saying the law was properly applied.

Johnson & Johnson separately agreed to a $2.2 billion federal settlement on similar claims.

© 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Citation: Drug firms argue against $1.2B Arkansas judgment (2014, February 27) retrieved 28 March 2024 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-02-drug-firms-12b-arkansas-judgment.html
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