J&J Joins the DOJ v Pharma Settlement Planetary System

The Department of Justice (DOJ) just updated its commemorative poster highlighting the now seven highest multi-million/billion dollar settlements that drug companies have agreed to pay for inappropriately, and in some cases illegally, promoting prescription drugs.

The latest addition to the poster is Johnson and Johnson, which will pay $2.2 billion to the U.S. government to end civil and criminal investigations into kickbacks to pharmacists and the marketing of pharmaceuticals for off-label uses. According to an NBC News story (here), "The settlement with the company and its subsidiaries covers the marketing of schizophrenia treatment Risperdal and of heart drug Natrecor, said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity."

The poster represents just the latest version of the "DOJ v Pharma Settlement Planetary System," which still has room for additional members (see unidentified objects in the poster). The original poster can be found here.