Risperdal Breast Cancer Lawsuit

Wisner Baum is the first law firm in America to file a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson alleging the company knowingly concealed evidence that Risperdal causes breast cancer. We represent over 165 people who allege long-term use of antipsychotic drugs like Risperdal (risperidone) may significantly increase the risk of breast cancer in both women and men due to various mechanisms of action, including drug-induced hyperprolactinemia (abnormally high levels of prolactin hormone). 

If you took Risperdal or the generic version (risperidone) and developed breast cancer, our attorneys can help you. Our Risperdal 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. 

Call (855) 948-5098 or contact us today for a free case evaluation.

Key Points About Risperdal Breast Cancer Lawsuits

Risperdal Breast Cancer Lawsuit Update (2025)

What Are the Risperdal Breast Cancer Lawsuits About?

The Science Behind Risperdal Breast Cancer Lawsuits

Who Qualifies for the Risperdal Lawsuit in 2025?

What is the Payout for a Risperdal Breast Cancer Case?

Previous Risperdal Settlement for Gynecomastia Lawsuits

Join the Risperdal Breast Cancer Lawsuit

Risperdal Breast Cancer Lawsuit Update (2025)

April 23, 2025: Risperdal lawyers at Wisner Baum filed a groundbreaking lawsuit in Alameda County Superior Court alleging that Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals knowingly concealed evidence that Risperdal (risperidone) causes breast cancer. This is the first lawsuit specifically alleging that Risperdal causes breast cancer, marking a significant development for affected patients nationwide. 

The lawsuit, filed on behalf of plaintiff Bridgett Brown, claims that manufacturers concealed evidence dating back to the 1990s linking the drug to increased cancer risks. Ms. Brown was diagnosed with breast cancer last year after taking brand-name and generic versions of Risperdal. 

“J&J transformed a narrow-use drug into a billion-dollar blockbuster by targeting vulnerable segments of our population, all while hiding a cancer risk they’ve known about for decades,” said Risperdal lawyer Pedram Esfandiary.

The lawsuit alleges that despite knowledge connecting Risperdal to hyperprolactinemia, Risperdal’s drug label denied any cancer risk, stating until 2025, “neither clinical trials nor epidemiological studies conducted to date have shown an association between chronic administration of this class of drugs and tumorigenesis in humans."

“The science has been clear on Risperdal for decades,” said Monique Alarcon, attorney for Ms. Brown. “Johnson & Johnson had a duty to inform; they failed, and now individuals nationwide are suffering the consequences. We intend to hold them accountable.”

The case is Brown v. Johnson & Johnson et al (Case No. 25CV119808). Read the complaint here.

What Are the Risperdal Breast Cancer Lawsuits About?

Our lawsuits allege Risperdal can cause breast cancer in women and men. The plaintiffs in these lawsuits, who took Risperdal and generic risperidone for years, allege Johnson & Johnson knew about the breast cancer link but failed to warn consumers about the risk.

Previous Risperdal lawsuit cases against Johnson & Johnson subsidiary, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, relied on research conducted by the company in the 2000s, which found dangerous side effects linked to increased prolactin levels in people who took the mood stabilizer.

If you or someone in your family developed breast cancer after using Risperdal, you may qualify for compensation through our nationwide mass tort action.

The Science Behind Risperdal Breast Cancer Lawsuits

A foundational study linking the use of antipsychotics like Risperdal to breast cancer was published in 2022.

For this study, researchers looked at medical records of over 540,000 women in the U.S. to see if taking antipsychotic drugs might increase the risk of breast cancer. They grouped these drugs into three categories based on how much they raise levels of a hormone called prolactin in the body. Researchers then compared how often breast cancer occurred in women taking these drugs versus women taking other medications for mental health.

Here's what they found:

Overall Risk: Women taking any antipsychotic drug had a 35% higher chance of getting breast cancer compared to those not taking these drugs.

Risk Depends on Prolactin Levels: The risk of breast cancer was different depending on how much the drug raised prolactin levels:

• Category 1 drugs that raised prolactin the most increased breast cancer risk by 62%
• Category 2 drugs that raised prolactin moderately increased risk by 54%
• Category 3 drugs that didn't raise prolactin much didn't seem to increase breast cancer risk

Risperdal (risperidone) is classified as a Category 1 drug, which had the highest prolactin-elevating potential. 

Higher Doses, Higher Risk: Other studies have found that taking larger amounts of these drugs over time might lead to an even greater risk.

One Possible Cause: Antipsychotic drugs can increase prolactin levels in the body, which might be why they increase breast cancer risk.

In simple terms, this study suggests that women who take antipsychotic drugs—especially ones like Risperdal that significantly increase prolactin levels—may have a higher risk of developing breast cancer.

Prolactin Levels and Breast Cancer

Prolactin can increase the risk of breast cancer in several ways:

1. Cell growth: Prolactin encourages breast cells to grow and divide more quickly. This faster growth can lead to a higher chance of DNA damage, which may cause cancer.
2. Cell survival: Prolactin helps breast cancer cells stay alive by preventing them from dying naturally. This allows more cancer cells to survive and grow.
3. Teamwork with estrogen: Prolactin works together with estrogen, another hormone known to increase breast cancer risk. They help each other become more effective, potentially making cancer more likely to develop.
4. Spread of cancer: Prolactin may help cancer cells move around more efficiently, which could lead to cancer spreading to other parts of the body.
5. Treatment resistance: Higher prolactin levels might make some cancer treatments less effective, making the cancer harder to treat.
6. Increased risk for certain types: Women with higher blood levels of prolactin have a slightly higher risk of developing breast cancer, especially after menopause and for a type called ER+ breast cancer.

Who Qualifies for the Risperdal Lawsuit in 2025?

Our attorneys are evaluating cases for people who took Risperdal and subsequently developed breast cancer. The fastest way to determine whether you are eligible to join the Risperdal breast cancer lawsuit is to consult with our legal team. Our Risperdal lawyers offer free and fast case evaluations. The questionnaire takes about five minutes to complete. Once we receive your information, our legal team will promptly respond with the next steps. 

What is the Payout for a Risperdal Breast Cancer Case?

A breast cancer diagnosis changes everything. Beyond the physical and emotional toll you may be facing:

• Overwhelming medical expenses for treatment and ongoing care
• Lost wages during chemotherapy and recovery
• Reduced ability to work or maintain your career
• Significant out-of-pocket costs for travel and care
• Profound impact on your quality of life and family relationships
• Wrongful death in the event that a family member passes away

The compensation you may receive in a Risperdal lawsuit depends on your damages claims. Compensatory damages aim to reimburse you for losses resulting from the defendant’s negligence. They fall into two main categories:

Economic Damages:

• Lost earnings and employment opportunities
• Property damage
• Other out-of-pocket costs 

General Damages:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of consortium (impact on spousal relationship)

Economic damages are typically easier to calculate as they have specific dollar amounts attached. General damages are more subjective and can vary widely based on individual circumstances.

Mass tort litigations like this may also involve punitive damages, which are additional monetary penalties awarded to plaintiffs in addition to compensatory damages. They serve two main purposes:

1. To punish the defendant for extremely reckless or intentional misconduct that goes beyond simple negligence.
2. To deter the defendant and others from engaging in similar harmful behavior in the future.

Unlike compensatory damages that aim to reimburse victims for actual losses, punitive damages convey that the defendant's actions were unacceptable. They're typically awarded in cases where the defendant's behavior was outrageous or completely disregarded people's safety.

Punitive damages can be substantial, especially when awarded in response to corporate wrongdoing that affects many people. While they are not awarded in every case and require a higher standard of proof than compensatory damages, Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals were previously ordered to pay punitive damages in Risperdal gynecomastia cases. 

Previous Risperdal Settlement for Gynecomastia Lawsuits

Johnson & Johnson was previously named as a defendant in lawsuits alleging Risperdal caused gynecomastia (abnormal breast growth) and failed to warn about this risk. These early Risperdal lawsuits, which were litigated between 2015-2021, resulted in significant verdicts and settlements for claimants. 

Below are some of the most notable outcomes of the Risperdal gynecomastia litigation:

• In 2013, Johnson & Johnson paid $2.2 billion to settle criminal and civil investigations related to Risperdal marketing.
• Austin Pledger won $2.5 million in the first Risperdal jury trial in 2015. The verdict remained after J&J appealed in 2016.
• Andrew Yount received a $70 million verdict in 2016, though the verdict was later reduced. 
• Nicholas Murray was initially awarded $8 billion in 2019, but a judge later reduced this to $6.8 million.
• In October 2021, Johnson & Johnson settled most of the remaining 9,000 lawsuits for $800 million.
• Attorneys have reported that the average individual settlement for Risperdal gynecomastia cases was around $95,000.

Join the Risperdal Breast Cancer Lawsuit

Pharmaceutical companies must be held accountable when prioritizing profits over patient safety. The drug manufacturers knew about potential risks but failed to warn patients, and now thousands are facing life-changing breast cancer diagnoses.

Evidence suggests the antipsychotic drug makers knew about the breast cancer risks linked to elevated prolactin levels, yet still:

• Failed to include breast cancer warnings on the drug labels.
• Failed to disclose the link between the prolactin increasing effects of the drugs and the risk of breast cancer. Instead, the drug manufacturers downplayed the association between the drugs and breast cancer. 
• Continued marketing the drugs despite awareness of these dangers.
• Put profits ahead of patient safety.

This litigation seeks to hold drug manufacturers accountable for their conduct in failing to warn people about known safety risks.

By joining the Risperdal breast cancer lawsuit, you will:

• Stand up for your rights and the rights of other patients
• Help ensure pharmaceutical companies prioritize safety
• Help create change that protects future patients
• Seek the resources needed for your medical care and recovery
• Join others in demanding accountability

Don’t carry the burden of a breast cancer diagnosis alone. Let our experienced Risperdal lawyers fight for full and fair compensation you deserve while you focus on your health and recovery.