STAT

Insys ignored warnings about marketing powerful opioid Subsys

A consultant warned the drug maker lacked needed policies for governing such activities, but Insys executives failed to take corrective action.

In early 2015, an Insys Therapeutics employee called an insurer and provided misleading patient information in order to win clearance for a prescription for its Subsys painkiller. The conversation — in which the employee pretended to call from a physician’s office — was about a woman named Sarah Fuller, whose family later claimed she died because she was inappropriately prescribed the drug.

The phone call was made scarcely a year after a consultant warned the drug maker that it lacked needed policies for governing such activities, but Insys executives failed to take corrective action, according to U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from STAT

STAT2 min read
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re Reading About Drug Shortages, Medicare Spending On An Alzheimer’s Drug, And More
Medicare estimates a new Alzheimer’s drug could cost the program billions of dollars by next year — well beyond what Wall Street or the drug’s manufacturer project.
STAT2 min read
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re Reading About A Novo Nordisk Deal, A Regeneron Setback, And More
Novo Nordisk agreed to acquire Cardior Pharmaceuticals in a deal worth up to $1.1 billion, picking up additional cardiometabolic drug candidates.
STAT2 min read
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re Reading About AstraZeneca CEO Pay, Alternatives To WuXi And More
And so, another working week will soon draw to a close. Not a moment too soon, yes? This is, you may recall, our treasured signal to daydream about weekend plans.…

Related Books & Audiobooks