Pennsylvania Joins Multi-State Settlement Concerning Deceptive And Misleading Marketing Of Oxycontin

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May 8, 2007 -- HARRISBURG - Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett today announced that Pennsylvania, along with 25 other states and the District of Columbia, have reached a $19.5 million settlement with drug-maker Purdue Pharma concerning allegations of deceptive marketing and promotion of OxyContin - a powerful and often abused pain medication.

Corbett said the multi-state settlement resolves claims that Purdue Pharma engaged in extensive off-label marketing of OxyContin -- promoting the drug for uses that had not been reviewed or approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration. Additionally, Purdue Pharma sales representatives allegedly failed to adequately disclose information about potential abuse and illegal diversion of OxyContin, in violation of state Consumer Protection Laws.

"For years, Pennsylvania and other states have been battling the illegal use and abuse of prescription pain-killers like OxyContin, which can be just as addictive and deadly as heroin and other drugs," Corbett said. "Prescription drug abuse has left a trail of overdose deaths and crime that touches almost every Pennsylvania community."

Corbett said that it is essential that the doctors who prescribe OxyContin, as well as the patients who receive it, are clearly warned about potential problems, and that companies like Purdue Pharma do not promote unapproved uses for these drugs.

Corbett said the multi-state settlement includes a number of restrictions and requirements concerning the marketing and sale of OxyContin, including:

* No marketing or promotion of OxyContin for off-label uses.
* No deceptive or misleading claims about OxyContin.
* No sponsorship or funding of events where off-label uses are recommended.
* Purdue Pharma sales representatives will educate drug prescribers about potential abuse and diversion of OxyContin.
* Bonuses for sales representatives will not be based only on the volume of OxyContin prescribed.

Additionally, Purdue Pharma will maintain an OxyContin abuse and diversion detection program.

Corbett said that Pennsylvania will receive $949,000 as part of the multi-state settlement, to be used for future public protection and enforcement activities.

In addition to Pennsylvania, the following states took part in the investigation of Purdue's Pharma's business practices, as well as in today's settlement: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia.

The settlement was filed in Commonwealth Court today by Chief Deputy Attorney General Thomas M. Devlin and Deputy Attorney General Timothy E. Gates of the Attorney General's Health Care Section.

Source: Pennsylvania Attorney General