NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) — New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced a lawsuit Feb. 1 against Insys Therapeutics Inc., alleging recklessly marketing a highly addictive fentanyl drug called Subsys.
According to Schneiderman’s office, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Subsys as a treatment for cancer-related breakthrough pain. Insys allegedly marketed the drug, however, for wider use. Schneiderman’s office is seeking penalties and disgorgement of all revenues accumulated from the product during the period of alleged misconduct.
“At a time when the opioid epidemic was ravaging New York, Insys Therapeutics allegedly marketed a drug illegally by blatantly disregarding the grave risks of addiction and death that opioids pose,” Schneiderman said. “As we allege, Insys showed a wanton disregard for the law and the lives of New Yorkers, and we will hold them accountable. My office will continue to fight the opioid crisis at every level and hold corporations that prioritize profits above New Yorkers’ health and well being to account.”
Handling the case for New York were assistant attorney general Carol Hunt and former assistant attorney general Michael Reisman, with supervision from senior enforcement counsel Kathleen Konopka.