Standard News

Hide Advertisement
  • Business
  • Culture
  • News
  • Technology
  • Trending
Site logo
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Illinois attorney general sues Insys over fentanyl drug marketing

By Reuters 2 min read
Attorney General for the State of Illinois Madigan testifies before House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on recent Target and Neiman Marcus data breaches in Washington

By Nate Raymond

(Reuters) – Illinois’ attorney general on Thursday sued Insys Therapeutics Inc, accusing it of deceptively marketing and selling an addictive fentanyl-based medication, intended to treat cancer pain, to doctors for off-label uses.

Advertisement

The lawsuit, filed by Attorney General Lisa Madigan in Cook County Circuit Court, comes as Insys faces a number of state and investigations involving its drug Subsys as U.S. authorities seek to combat a national opioid abuse epidemic.

“This drug company’s desire for increased profits led it to disregard patients’ health and push addictive opioids for non-FDA approved purposes,” Madigan said in a statement.

Madigan, whose office is investigating other opioid manufacturers for similar practices, said the lawsuit seeks to bar Insys from selling its products in Illinois and impose financial penalties on the company.

Insys, based in Arizona, did not respond immediately to requests for comment.

Subsys, which Insys launched in 2012, is a spray approved for managing pain in cancer patients that contains fentanyl, a highly-addictive and regulated synthetic opioid. It generated $329.5 million in net revenue in 2015.

The lawsuit alleged that rather than marketing the drug to oncologists treating cancer patients, Insys instead illegally marketed it to doctors who prescribed high volumes of opioid drugs.

Madigan said Insys rewarded doctors nationally for prescribing Subsys for off-label uses through payments for sham speaking events and expensive restaurant dinners.

The case came after federal prosecutors in Manhattan in June brought charges against two former Insys employees for engaging in a scheme to pay doctors kickbacks including speaker fees to prescribe Subsys.

Those ex-employees, Jonathan Roper, a former Insys district sales manager, and Fernando Serrano, a former sales representative, pleaded not guilty last week.

The case is People of the State of Illinois v. Insys Therapeutics Inc, Cook County Circuit Court, Chancery Division, No. 2016CH11216.

(Reporting by Nate Raymond in New York; editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Bernard Orr)

tagreuters.com2016binary_LYNXNPEC7O1DR-VIEWIMAGE

Advertisement - Continue reading below

Shouting ‘liar, liar,’ protesters disrupt Lochte’s dancing debut
Entertainment
Reuters 2 min read

Shouting ‘liar, liar,’ protesters disrupt Lochte’s dancing debut

Juliette Binoche urges Europe to welcome refugees, respect women
Entertainment
Reuters 2 min read

Juliette Binoche urges Europe to welcome refugees, respect women

If You See This Happening At Walmart, Run For Your Life
Trending
Danielle 1 min read

If You See This Happening At Walmart, Run For Your Life

Retailers Launch National Ad Campaign Urging Congress to Uphold Debit Swipe Fee Reform
Business
Jason Owen 2 min read

Retailers Launch National Ad Campaign Urging Congress to Uphold Debit Swipe Fee Reform

Ralph Lauren, inspired by American West, stops traffic during show
Entertainment
Reuters 2 min read

Ralph Lauren, inspired by American West, stops traffic during show

Average Travel Cost Statistics For 2023 According To Forbes Advisor
Travel
Greg Fischer 6 min read

Average Travel Cost Statistics For 2023 According To Forbes Advisor

Patriots quarterback Brady ends ‘Deflategate’ legal fight
News
Reuters 2 min read

Patriots quarterback Brady ends ‘Deflategate’ legal fight

Bosnia pays tribute to David Bowie with vast mural
Entertainment
Reuters 2 min read

Bosnia pays tribute to David Bowie with vast mural

Special prosecutor to probe Chicago police conduct in teen’s death
News
Reuters 2 min read

Special prosecutor to probe Chicago police conduct in teen’s death

CAIR Launches ‘Register Me First’ Website to Challenge Trump’s Islamophobic Policies
News
Jason Owen 3 min read

CAIR Launches ‘Register Me First’ Website to Challenge Trump’s Islamophobic Policies

load more Loading posts...

sidebar

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

sidebar-alt

  • About Us
  • Imprint
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy