Pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson has been hit by claims the company sold unreliable cold and flu medicines to Australians.
Brisbane-based law firm JGA Saddler filed a class action against the multibillion-dollar company on Friday over the allegations.
Millions of Aussies could be eligible for compensation over claims. Johnson & Johnson falsely stated that several medications it sold relieved congestion.
The class action concerns tablets in products such as Codral Day and Night and Sudafed PE that contain the substance phenylephrine.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ruled last year that the drug did not provide effective relief as a nasal decongestant when taken in tablet form.
The class action alleges that for years Johnson & Johnson has knowingly marketed and sold drugs that do not work for Australians.
The advertisement for Johnson & Johnson Codral Day and Night Medicine states: ‘Phenylephrine helps relieve nasal congestion and runny nose’.
A similar advertisement on the packaging of Sudafed PE medications refers to the drug as a “nasal decongestant.”
Millions of Aussies could be eligible for compensation over claims. Johnson & Johnson falsely stated that several drugs (pictured) it sold to relieve traffic congestion.
The drug’s website indicated that the product “provides fast, powerful relief from sinus pressure and nasal congestion.”
Lawyer and director of JGA Saddler Rebecca Jancauskas said the company was misleading customers.
“Customers should be able to confidently buy medicines that work as advertised, and if 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 shows does not work as claimed.
“Australians have trusted these products to work as advertised and would not have purchased them if they realized they were not effective in treating traffic congestion.”
The law firm has asked anyone in Australia who purchased tablets containing phenylephrine from Johnson & Johnson registry for the class action.
Consumers who took products from 2005 through December 2024 could be compensated if the class action is successful.
According to Ms Jancauskas, they could also receive the value of the product they purchased during that period.
Lawyer and director of JGA Saddler Rebecca Jancauskas (pictured) says Australian consumers should be able to buy medicines with confidence, knowing they work
The ear, nose and throat specialist Dr. Brisbane’s Jo-Lyn McKenzie said the allegations will impact the trust consumers place in medicines and pharmacies.
Ms McKenzie said Australians should ensure they are aware of the effectiveness of medicines before consuming them.
“This situation is a reminder to Australian consumers to be cautious and informed,” she said.
“Rather than relying on direct-to-consumer advertising, take the time to have meaningful conversations with health professionals who can make evidence-based recommendations.”
Dr. McKenzie told the ABC Phenylephrine became widely used in cold and flu medications after pseudoephedrine was removed from pharmacy shelves 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 instead so the company could continue selling drugs.
Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) was notified that the FDA was meeting in 2023 to investigate the effectiveness of oral tablets containing phenylephrine to provide relief from nasal congestion.
Ms Jancauskas said the company misled customers (photo from Johnson & Johnson’s Sydney office)
The FDA’s advisory committee also discussed whether to rate the drug as “safe and effective.”
“At this time, the TGA has no plans to conduct a study on the effectiveness of oral phenylephrine, but will continue to monitor the outcomes of the FDA review,” they said.
Medicines in Australia containing phenylephrine must be registered on the ARTG (Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods).
Under Australian law, the active ingredient in a drug must be displayed on the main label of the product to ensure consumers can make an informed choice about whether to purchase the product.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Johnson & Johnson for comment.