Women and men diagnosed with breast cancer after taking Invega may qualify for substantial compensation.
Emerging scientific evidence confirms a link between antipsychotic medications like Invega (generic: paliperidone) and elevated breast cancer risk due to prolactin hormone disruption. Pharmaceutical giant Janssen Pharmaceuticals—a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary—faces nationwide lawsuits alleging failure to warn patients and physicians about this life-threatening side effect.
On this page, the Invega breast cancer lawyers at Wisner Baum explain the science behind the antipsychotic lawsuits, eligibility criteria, potential settlement values, and more.
If you developed breast cancer after taking Invega (paliperidone), our law firm can help you. Our Invega lawyers represent clients on a contingency fee basis, which means if we don’t obtain compensation for you in a verdict or settlement, you don’t pay. Fill out our case evaluation form today to begin the claims.
Invega Lawsuit: Your Guide to Legal Rights & Compensation
What is Invega (Paliperidone)?
Invega (paliperidone) is a pharmaceutical drug used to treat schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder in adults and adolescents. It balances two key brain chemicals—dopamine and serotonin—to help improve clear thinking and stabilize moods.
Invega has been sold as a daily tablet and an injection.
- Invega Sustena is an extended-release injection released into the body over one month.
- Invega Trinza is an extended-release injection released into the body over 3 months.
- Invega Hafyera is an injection released into the body over 6 months.
- Invega Erzofri is an extended-release injectable suspension approved by the FDA (July 2024).
Invega Lawsuit Update 2026
January 9, 2026: We believe the Invega litigation will continue to grow as the year progresses. Our attorneys represent hundreds of individuals in lawsuits alleging that antipsychotic medications like Invega caused them to develop breast cancer.
November 24, 2025: U.S. District Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin granted the plaintiffs’ motion to remand Brown v. Johnson & Johnson et al to California state court.
November 12, 2025: The ongoing litigation involving Invega (paliperidone) and related antipsychotics continues this fall as the court in Brown v. Johnson & Johnson et al heard arguments on pretrial motions.
October 30, 2025: At a hearing before U.S. District Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin, Wisner Baum argued on behalf of plaintiffs that Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiaries failed to adequately warn patients and physicians about the potential breast cancer risks associated with Invega and related antipsychotic drugs. Attorneys pointed to evidence concerning drug-induced hyperprolactinemia, a known side effect of these medications, which they contend may contribute to the development of breast cancer in both women and men.
During the same proceeding, Judge Martinez-Olguin heard argument on the plaintiffs’ motion to remand the case to state court and Kaiser Permanente International’s motion to compel arbitration. Both matters were taken under submission, with a written order expected. The court also scheduled a hearing on pending motions to dismiss for December 4, 2025.
September 15, 2025: Plaintiffs submitted evidence in support of remand to state court, while briefing also concluded on Kaiser Permanente International’s Motion to Compel Arbitration. Lawsuits allege Johnson & Johnson and other manufacturers failed to adequately warn patients and healthcare professionals of the breast cancer risk.
August 27, 2025: The court has approved a joint request to delay discovery, which will halt case management proceedings for the time being while motions to remand and dismiss are under consideration. As more individuals continue to seek answers and justice, this litigation will continue to grow.
August 1, 2025: Invega attorney Monique Alarcon said in a press release issued this week:
"In what has come to be known as 'the Big Pharma Playbook,' antipsychotic drug manufacturers used a deceptive pattern of off-label marketing to increase sales for medications developed to treat extreme psychotic conditions like schizophrenia.
Because schizophrenia and bipolar disorder affect a small portion of the population, the drug makers sought a bigger market among doctors prescribing the medications to elderly patients with dementia and many others without schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. They were told the potent psychiatric drugs would provide generalized ‘mood stabilization.’
“They did this despite knowing that these conditions can be addressed by other widely available prescription drugs like Abilify (aripiprazole), Clozaril (clozapine), Geodon (ziprasidone), and Seroquel (quetiapine), which are considered safer and more effective.”
Read the press release on our ongoing litigation here.
The Scientific Basis for Invega Breast Cancer Lawsuits
The three primary allegations in the Invega breast cancer lawsuits are:
- Exposure to certain antipsychotics, including Invega (paliperidone), can induce hyperprolactinemia (abnormally high levels of the hormone prolactin), which can cause breast cancer.
- Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, has been aware of the hyperprolactinemia issue since the 1990s but failed to warn of the risk of breast cancer and wrongfully concealed information concerning Invega’s dangers.
- Numerous studies have confirmed the risk of developing breast cancer increases with long-term exposure to Invega and its generic form.
Prolactin's Suspected Role in Breast Cancer Development
Researchers do not yet know the precise pathways by which Invega causes cancer. However, Invega belongs to a class of antipsychotics known to dramatically increase prolactin levels. Chronic prolactin elevation creates a tumorigenic environment through three key mechanisms:
- Cellular Proliferation: Prolactin activates JAK2-STAT5 signaling pathways that accelerate cell division in mammary tissue.
- Apoptosis Suppression: Elevated prolactin weakens natural tumor suppression mechanisms in precancerous lesions.
- Receptor Overexpression: According to a Janssen study, “more than 95% of [breast cancer tumors] display overexpression of the prolactin receptor, and genes that are activated by this receptor are associated with tumorigenesis and cancer cell proliferation.”
A landmark 2022 study of over 500,000 U.S. women found:
- 62% higher breast cancer risk for Category 1 drugs (high prolactin-elevating agents like Invega and Risperdal)
- 54% increased risk for Category 2 drugs (moderate prolactin effects)
- No significant risk for Category 3 drugs (low prolactin impact)
Eligibility for Invega Lawsuits
You may be eligible for an Invega lawsuit if you took paliperidone and developed breast cancer.
The best way to determine whether you qualify to join the Invega breast cancer lawsuit is to consult Wisner Baum’s legal team. Our Invega lawyers offer free and fast case evaluations. The questionnaire takes about five minutes to complete. Once we receive your information, we will review it and promptly respond with the next steps.
What is the Deadline to File an Invega Breast Cancer Lawsuit?
The deadline to file an Invega breast cancer claim can vary depending on where you live, where you were prescribed the drug, and more. We highly recommend starting the legal process by filling out a case evaluation form as soon as possible. This helps ensure you do not miss the applicable legal deadline to file your case.
Potential Compensation in Invega Lawsuits
A breast cancer diagnosis creates profound physical, emotional, and financial consequences. Women who took Invega and later developed breast cancer should not have to face the financial consequences due to a drug maker’s alleged failure to warn.
When dangerous or defective medications harm people, they most commonly join together in a legal action called a mass tort lawsuit. These cases allow individuals to hold drug companies accountable for injuries caused by their products. While mass torts share similarities to class action lawsuits, they differ in that compensation to each plaintiff in a mass tort reflects their personal damages. So even though many people are suing together, each person’s compensation is based on their specific losses.
What Are Economic Damages?
One of the most important parts of these Invega lawsuits is recovering economic damages—money to cover the financial losses caused by the alleged harm. These are out-of-pocket costs and financial losses a person suffers because of their injuries. These are real, measurable expenses—like medical bills or lost wages—that can be proven with receipts, pay stubs, or other documents.
Economic damages may include:
- Medical Expenses
The most common out-of-pocket expense is medical costs. This includes all the money spent treating injuries caused by the defective drug. For example:
- Hospital stays: If you need to stay in the hospital because of side effects from the medication or other treatment.
- Surgeries or procedures: Costs for operations or treatments required to address health problems caused by the drug.
- Medications: Prescription drugs needed to manage symptoms or complications.
- Doctor visits: Bills for appointments with specialists, therapists, or other healthcare providers.
- Medical equipment: Items like wheelchairs or other devices.
Future medical expenses (like physical therapy or follow-up surgeries) can also be included if your diagnosis requires ongoing care.
- Lost Income
Many people miss work—or can’t work at all—because of harm from a defective drug. Lost income may cover:
- Wages lost while recovering: If you took unpaid leave or used sick days.
- Reduced earning capacity: If your diagnosis forces you to switch to a lower-paying job or work fewer hours.
- Future lost income: If your diagnosis prevents you from working long-term.
- Transportation Costs
Traveling to medical appointments adds up. Economic damages can include:
- Gas or public transit fares for trips to hospitals or pharmacies.
- Parking fees at medical facilities.
- Ambulance or medical transport bills for emergencies.
- Caregiver Costs
A breast cancer diagnosis may require help with daily tasks like bathing, cooking, or taking medications. Economic damages can cover:
- Professional nursing care at home or in a facility.
- Family caregiver expenses: If a loved one takes time off work to care for you, their lost wages may be included.
How Are Economic Damages Calculated?
Each person’s economic damages depend on their unique situation. Courts review:
- Receipts and bills to verify medical costs.
- Pay stubs or tax returns to prove lost income.
- Expert testimony to estimate future expenses (like lifelong medical care).
Why Economic Damages Matter
Drug manufacturers have a duty to make safe products. When they fail, economic damages help injured people:
- Avoid debt from overwhelming medical bills.
- Stay financially stable while recovering.
- Rebuild their lives after severe health complications.
By covering these costs, the legal system aims to put injured individuals back in the position they were in before taking the harmful drug.
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages are monetary penalties awarded to the plaintiffs in addition to the compensatory damages listed above. Punitive damages are designed to:
- Punish companies that engage in malicious, reckless disregard for safety.
- Deter similar harmful conduct in the future.
Why Choose Our Invega Breast Cancer Attorneys
Wisner Baum has won some of the nation’s most highly publicized prescription drug cases. Some of our successes in litigation against Big Pharma include:
- $105 Million Pharmaceutical Settlement
- $63 Million Pharmaceutical Class Action Settlement
- $40 Million Pharmaceutical Class Action Settlement
- $28 Million Pharmaceutical Class Action Settlement
- $10 Million Pharmaceutical Class Action Settlement
Our Invega attorneys offer free and confidential case evaluations. We litigate these lawsuits on contingency, which means if we don’t win, you don’t pay. Let us fight for justice and compensation so you can focus on what matters most: healing.
