New York Sues Purdue Pharma for Alleged Marketing Fraud of Opioids

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The State of New York has sued Purdue Pharma for allegedly committing widespread fraud and deception in marketing opioid products.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo and State Attorney General Barbara Underwood announced the lawsuit on Tuesday.

The attorney general is conducting an ongoing multistate investigation into the opioid crisis, which prompted the lawsuit against the pharmaceutical company.

 Allegations against Purdue Pharma

In the lawsuit, Underwood alleged that Purdue Pharma repeatedly misrepresented its opioid products. The pharmaceutical company “concealed the link between long-term use of opioids and abuse and addiction.” It “masked the signs of addiction by referring to them as ‘pseudoaddiction.’”

Additionally, Underwood accused Purdue Pharma of falsely claiming that the withdrawals from its opioid products are manageable. She also said it overstated the risks of alternative pain relief therapies and misrepresented opioids’ efficacy to improve body function.

Furthermore, the attorney general alleged that the pharmaceutical company’s practices were part of its “concerted effort to increase sales of its opioid products.”