Senate probe keeps heat on J&J, Mylan, Depomed and others for their opioid marketing

Fierce Pharma --------- Opioid makers have had no shortage of critics in recent years as the United States suffers the sting of a painful addiction epidemic. Now, a top senate Democrat is throwing the weight of her office behind efforts to dig into the industry’s marketing practices for the risky painkillers. Sen. Claire McCaskill is targeting Johnson & Johnson, Mylan, Depomed, Insys and Purdue in her investigation, which is aimed at learning whether the companies had any role in the country’s “overutilization and overprescription” of the meds, according to a release. In letters to J&J CEO Alex Gorsky, Mylan CEO Heather Bresch, Depomed CEO Jim Schoeneck, Insys interim CEO Santosh Vetticaden and Purdue CEO Mark Timney, the senator is pressing for answers. Among the documents she’s requesting are internal opioid abuse estimates, info on marketing strategies, sales quotas and contributions to patient groups. To learn more click on the picture below to read the article.