Chicago Subpoenas J&J Over 'Deceptive' Opioid Marketing

In the latest imbroglio over prescription painkillers, the city of Chicago has filed a petition accusing Johnson & Johnson and its Janssen unit of deceptive marketing of two medicines – the Duragesic patch and Nucynta tablet – and wants the drugmaker to relinquish six years’ worth of documents, Crain’s Chicago Business writes. The city claims J&J improperly marketed the opioids for long-term treatment of chronic pain, but that assertions the drugs are safe and effective over an extended period of time are not supported by scientific evidence. “Janssen also may have misled health care providers and patients by minimizing the serious risk of addiction and overdose from the use of opioids long term,” the city writes in its petition. "As part of its ongoing efforts to protect Chicago taxpaxyer, the city conducts reviews concerning allegations of misconduct on the part of city suppliers," a spokesman for the city Law Department tells us. "As part of these investigations, the city reviews evidence to determine whether there is a basis for filing a claim on behalf of the city and its taxpayers. This subpoena is part of those ongoing efforts." The accusation is only the latest such charge to haunt J&J over its marketing. Earlier this month, the health care giant agreed to pay more than $2.2 billion to resolve criminal and civil lawsuits that alleged the healthcare giant illegally marketed its Risperdal antipsychotic and two other medicines, and also paid kickb...
Source: Pharmalot - Category: Pharma Commentators Authors: Source Type: blogs