Pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson has been hit with explosive claims that the company sold dubious cold and flu medicines to Australians.
Brisbane-based law firm JGA Saddler on Friday filed a class action lawsuit against the multibillion-dollar company over the allegations.
Millions of Australians could be entitled to compensation over claims that Johnson & Johnson falsely claimed several drugs it sold relieved congestion.
The class action lawsuit concerns tablets from products such as Codral Day and Night and Sudafed PE that contain a substance called phenylephrine.
Last year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ruled that the drug did not provide effective relief as a nasal decongestant when taken in tablet form.
The class action lawsuit claims Johnson & Johnson knowingly marketed and sold non-working drugs to Australians for years.
Advertising for Johnson & Johnson’s Codral Day and Night medication says that “phenylephrine helps relieve congestion and runny nose.”
A similar advertisement on the packaging of the PE drug Sudafed refers to the drug as a “nasal decongestant.”
Millions of Australians could be entitled to compensation over claims that Johnson & Johnson falsely claimed several drugs (pictured) it sold relieved congestion.
The drug’s website stated that the product “provides fast, powerful relief from sinus pressure and nasal congestion.”
JGA Saddler attorney and director Rebecca Jancauskas said the company misled clients.
“Customers should be able to confidently buy medicines that work as advertised and, when they don’t, the company involved should be held accountable,” Ms Jancauskas said. nine news.
‘Johnson & Johnson has manufactured and marketed a drug that decades of evidence has shown does not work as claimed.
“Australians have been confident that these products will work as advertised and would not have purchased them if they had realized they were not effective in treating congestion.”
The law firm has asked anyone in Australia who purchased Johnson & Johnson tablets containing phenylephrine to record for the class action lawsuit.
Consumers who brought in products from 2005 to December 2024 could be compensated if the class action lawsuit is successful.
According to Jancauskas, they could also receive the value of the product they purchased in that time period.
JGA Saddler lawyer and director Rebecca Jancauskas (pictured) said Australian consumers should be able to buy medicines with confidence knowing they work.
Brisbane ear, nose and throat specialist Dr Jo-Lyn McKenzie said the allegations will affect the trust consumers place in medicines and pharmacies.
McKenzie said Australians should make sure they know the effectiveness of medications before taking them.
“This situation serves as a reminder for Australian consumers to be cautious and informed,” he said.
“Rather than relying on direct-to-consumer advertising, take the time to have meaningful conversations with health professionals who can provide evidence-based recommendations.”
Dr. McKenzie told alphabet Phenylephrine began to be widely used in cold and flu medications after pseudoephedrine was removed from pharmacies in 2006.
Pseudoephedrine was removed because it was used in the production of methamphetamine.
After sales of the tablets were restricted, Johnson & Johnson used phenylephrine so the company could continue selling medications.
Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) was informed that the FDA met in 2023 to investigate the effectiveness of oral tablets containing phenylephrine in relieving nasal decongestion.
Jancauskas said the company misled customers (pictured, Johnson & Johnson’s Sydney office)
The FDA advisory committee also discussed whether the drug should be reviewed as “safe and effective.”
“At this time, the TGA has no plans to conduct a review of the effectiveness of oral phenylephrine, but will continue to monitor the results of the FDA review,” they said.
Medicines in Australia containing phenylephrine must be registered with the ARTG (Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods).
Under Australian law, the active ingredient in a medicine must be listed on the product’s main label to ensure consumers can make an informed decision about whether they want to purchase the product.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Johnson & Johnson for comment.