The Ohio attorney general filed a lawsuit against five opioid manufacturers, alleging fraudulent marketing that misled the state, prescribers, and patients about the risks of these medications. Ohio has been hit particularly hard by the opioid epidemic, with thousands of prescription overdose deaths in recent years. The suit was filed against Purdue Pharma, Endo Health Solutions, Teva Pharmaceutical (and its subsidiary Cephalon), Johnson & Johnson (and its subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals), and Allergan. In particular, Purdue has been criticized for its marketing of OxyContin, which included funding patient advocacy groups to lobby for wider treatment of pain.
Up to one-third of Ohio residents have been prescribed an opioid, according to the suit. This is the second lawsuit filed by one of the hard-hit states, following Mississippi, with other states expected to follow suit.
The suit alleges fraudulent marketing that misled the state, prescribers, and patients about the risks of these medications.
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