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Purdue, execs sued by Massachusetts over opioid marketing practices

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey filed a lawsuit against Purdue Pharma LP and certain of its executives and directors for misleading prescribers and consumers regarding the addiction and health risks of their opioids, including OxyContin.

The lawsuit, filed in Suffolk Superior Court, alleges that the OxyContin-maker misguided doctors and patients by disguising the risks of addiction and death related to prolonged use of its prescription opioids.

Healey's lawsuit also claims the company misrepresented that its opioids provided more consistent, effective and even safer relief than acetaminophen and ibuprofen, and aggressively targeted marketing and promotional efforts at vulnerable populations, including veterans and the elderly, who were not previously taking opioids.

The lawsuit names 16 current or former Purdue executives and directors, including current and former CEOs Craig Landau, John Stewart and Mark Timney.

Healey said that the opioid epidemic is killing five people every day in Massachusetts.

In February, Purdue halted marketing of its opioids, including its painkiller OxyContin, to doctors and physicians and cut its sales staff in half.

The Massachusetts attorney general is part of a bipartisan coalition of 41 states against companies responsible for the opioid epidemic. The coalition is investigating the marketing and sales practices of opioid manufacturers and distributors. The coalition is also in negotiations for settlements with these companies.

The U.S. Justice Department said in April that it was seeking court permission to engage in negotiations to resolve multidistrict litigation against opioid makers and distributors.

In late May, Utah's attorney general filed a lawsuit against Purdue over its marking practices for opioids. The Stamford, Conn.-based drugmaker is also facing lawsuits from Nevada, Texas, Florida, North Carolina, North Dakota, Tennessee, Arkansas and South Dakota for engaging in the unlawful marketing and promotion of its prescription painkillers.