Fierce Pharma
By Tracy Staton
March 11, 2010

The Massachusetts attorney general joined that federal lawsuit accusing Johnson & Johnson of paying kickbacks to push the antipsychotic Risperdal and other drugs into nursing homes. AG Martha Coakley didn’t stop there; however, her office is also investigating other companies that market antipsychotics to nursing homes in the state.

At issue is whether drug companies are touting antipsychotic drugs for unapproved uses, such as dementia. The FDA has warned that use of the atypical antipsychotics in elderly dementia patients can increase the risk of death. “The inappropriate off-label marketing of antipsychotic drugs to nursing homes is a significant health and safety issue for our seniors,” Coakley says in a statement released by her office (as quoted by the Boston Globe). “We have taken strong action on this issue in the past and are continuing to monitor it very closely moving forward.”

Read entire article:  http://www.fiercepharma.com/story/massachusetts-joins-kickback-suit-against-j-j/2010-03-11