Big Pharma cons Texas and endangers kids

Big Pharma and its mass marketing arm hornswoggled the state of Texas into blowing $300 million on atypical antipsychotics for children that not only don’t work well, they also cause serious weight gain.

The drugs, such as Janssen’s Risperdal and Abilify, don’t work any better than older generics, according to a national study reported in the American Journal of Psychiatry. So, Big Pharma has sold a big bill of goods:

“States have spent a tremendous amount of money unnecessarily for drugs that are no safer than the older drugs that are a fraction of the cost,” said Allen Jones, a Pennsylvania whistleblower who investigates drug company influence. “It appears, based on what the science is telling us, that an enormous amount of money was spent for no real benefit.”

The study may also bolster a state lawsuit — originally filed by Mr. Jones but joined by Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott — against Janssen over allegations the company improperly influenced state officials to add Risperdal to a list of preferred drugs.

In fact, false advertising is one of the counts listed in the suit.

As for the health issues, all the atypical antipsychotics cause child metabolism changes that increase the likelihood of diabetes. One, Zyprexa, caused as much as 15 pounds of weight gain in just eight weeks.

Ahh, that’s Big Pharma for you.