Johnson & Johnson Faces Class Action Lawsuit in New Zealand for Allegedly Selling Ineffective Cold and Flu Medicines
The lawsuit also claims Johnson & Johnson knew a key drug in its medicines did not work.
Pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson is facing one of New Zealand’s largest ever class actions alleging the company sold ineffective cold and flu medicines.
At issue are popular brands marketed in New Zealand under the names Codral, Benadryl, Day & Night, and Sudafed, which contain a substance called phenylephrine or PE.
Lawyers for the plaintiffs, JGA Saddler, say the company marketed these brands as an effective nasal decongestant for around 20 years, and is seeking anyone who bought one of the products between 2005 and 2025 to join the action.
“Millions of New Zealanders expecting to be able to ’soldier on with Codral’ [a well-known jingle from its advertising campaigns] and other cold and flu medicines may be shocked to learn the over-the-counter products’ key ingredient is ineffective when taken orally,” said JGA Saddler Director Rebecca Jancauskas.
“It’s a case of Johnson & Johnson putting profit before people.”
Phenylephrine has been marketed as an effective substitute for pseudoephedrine after medications containing the latter substance were restricted in New Zealand in 2011 following concerns over its use in the manufacture of illicit drugs. New laws meant it could only be purchased with a prescription.
