Montana AG: Montana Settles with OxyContin Manufacturer

May 8, 2007 -- HELENA – Montana Attorney General Mike McGrath said today that Montana and 25 other states have reached a settlement with drug company Purdue Pharma regarding the narcotic pain medication OxyContin.

The multi-state agreement resolves concerns that Purdue had engaged in extensive "off-label" marketing of OxyContin, promoting the drug for purposes other than its approved uses. The settling states also contended that Purdue failed to disclose the drug's potential for abuse and addiction.

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McGrath said that Montana's share of the settlement is $500,000. The total settlement to the states is $19.5 million.

Under the terms of the settlement, Purdue is prohibited from:

* marketing and promoting OxyContin in a way that is inconsistent with the approved uses for the drug;
* marketing or promoting OxyContin for off-label purposes; and
* awarding bonuses to sales representatives that are based exclusively on the volume of OxyContin sales.

The settlement also requires Purdue to maintain an abuse and diversion-detection program to help detect so-called "problem prescribing" and requires Purdue sales representatives to inform health care providers about OxyContin and its potential for abuse.

"This case is another example of a company misrepresenting the risks associated with its product," McGrath said. "Consumers and their health care providers deserve better."

Source: Montana Attorney General