Post by account_disabled on Mar 10, 2024 3:22:48 GMT
For several years, there has been a strong opioid painkiller crisis in the United States. Between 1999 and 2007, there were approximately 218 overdose deaths related to prescription opioids.
Opioids are a class of medications that can be found in poppies, flowers used for the production of heroin.
These are prescribed to treat various levels of pain, as they act faster, longer and stronger than traditional pain relievers.
Opioids are potentially addictive and can easily cause overdoses.
Figures from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) – considered Chile Mobile Number List the main US health agency – show that West Virginia had the highest rate of drug overdose deaths in the country: 57.3 deaths per every 100 thousand people in 2017, more than double the national average (21.7).
Given this scenario, Oklahoma wants to face the situation and reduce the number of addicts and deaths in the state.
One of the measures they have taken is to condemn the multinational pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson for having promoted and sold painkillers irresponsibly: a fine of 572 million dollars was imposed.
How it happened?
A few years ago the pharmaceutical company contracted poppy producers in Tasmania, and supplied 60% of the opiate ingredients in various medications.
In addition to this, the subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals, owned by Johnson & Johnson, manufactured its own opioids (addictive medication), a pill whose rights it sold in 2015, and a fentanyl patch that it still produces.
Among the painkillers produced are:
Duragesic.
Ultram.
Tylenol.
$572 million fine against Johnson & Johnson
Judge Thad Balkman found the pharmaceutical company guilty, and accused it of contributing to the opioid epidemic.
"Johnson & Johnson underestimated the dangers and overestimated the benefits of opioids in their pain relievers."
However, the judge said the company has spread "false, inaccurate and dangerous marketing campaigns, which have caused an increase in rates of addiction, overdose deaths and the birth of babies exposed to opioids."
Cancer Lawsuit: Johnson & Johnson Loses
The Attorney General's Office of the State of Oklahoma requested the payment of 17 billion dollars to Johnson & Johnson to implement actions against the opioid epidemic, which will take approximately 20 years to overcome.
However, the judge said that the Prosecutor's Office did not present evidence about the time necessary to combat the epidemic, nor about the annual costs necessary; Therefore, he ordered the company to pay the amount necessary for the strategy that the Oklahoma government wants to implement for only one year: $572 million.
According to The New York Times , Sabrina Strong, a lawyer for Johnson & Johnson, said that there are sufficient grounds to appeal and have the sentence removed.
Johnson & Johnson certified for empowering women
This is the first trial carried out by governments or public entities in the case of responsibility for the opioid epidemic.
However, according to the Oklahoma Attorney General's Office, there are more than 1,600 similar lawsuits pending resolution throughout the country.
The sentencing judge harshly evaluated the company that has built its reputation as a responsible manufacturer.
" We have shown that J&J was the root cause of this opioid crisis ," said Brad Beckworth, the state's top attorney.
Johnson & Johnson made billions of dollars over a 20-year period. He has always denied responsibility and, at the same time, says that he wants to make a difference in solving this problem.
Brad Beckworth, the state's top attorney.
This case was closely watched by more than 20 dozen opioid manufacturers, distributors and retailers who face more than 2,000 similar lawsuits nationwide.
A few days ago, the health news website STAT said that the Kentucky Supreme Court left pending a previous ruling to release documents related to the marketing of the opioid OxyContin by the pharmaceutical company Purdue Pharma.
According to Michael Ullmann, general counsel and executive vice president of the pharmaceutical company, “J&J did not cause the opioid crisis in Oklahoma.”
"We recognize that the opioid crisis is a serious public health problem, and we have deep sympathy for those affected."
Other scandals involving Johnson & Johnson
For more than 133 years, the company has been involved in other scandals. Last year, the firm faced a lawsuit from a woman who contracted cancer from using talcum powder from this brand.
It was not the only case, and a judge ruled that the company would have to pay 4.7 billion dollars to women who were diagnosed with the same disease, caused by its product.
Reuters reported that Johnson & Johnson knew for decades that the raw material in talcum powder could be contaminated with asbestos , and tried to cover it up.
The report caused a 10% drop in the company's share price. However, J&J called the report " false ."
" We believe unequivocally that our talc, our baby powder, does not contain asbestos," CEO Alex Gorsky.
Opioids are a class of medications that can be found in poppies, flowers used for the production of heroin.
These are prescribed to treat various levels of pain, as they act faster, longer and stronger than traditional pain relievers.
Opioids are potentially addictive and can easily cause overdoses.
Figures from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) – considered Chile Mobile Number List the main US health agency – show that West Virginia had the highest rate of drug overdose deaths in the country: 57.3 deaths per every 100 thousand people in 2017, more than double the national average (21.7).
Given this scenario, Oklahoma wants to face the situation and reduce the number of addicts and deaths in the state.
One of the measures they have taken is to condemn the multinational pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson for having promoted and sold painkillers irresponsibly: a fine of 572 million dollars was imposed.
How it happened?
A few years ago the pharmaceutical company contracted poppy producers in Tasmania, and supplied 60% of the opiate ingredients in various medications.
In addition to this, the subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals, owned by Johnson & Johnson, manufactured its own opioids (addictive medication), a pill whose rights it sold in 2015, and a fentanyl patch that it still produces.
Among the painkillers produced are:
Duragesic.
Ultram.
Tylenol.
$572 million fine against Johnson & Johnson
Judge Thad Balkman found the pharmaceutical company guilty, and accused it of contributing to the opioid epidemic.
"Johnson & Johnson underestimated the dangers and overestimated the benefits of opioids in their pain relievers."
However, the judge said the company has spread "false, inaccurate and dangerous marketing campaigns, which have caused an increase in rates of addiction, overdose deaths and the birth of babies exposed to opioids."
Cancer Lawsuit: Johnson & Johnson Loses
The Attorney General's Office of the State of Oklahoma requested the payment of 17 billion dollars to Johnson & Johnson to implement actions against the opioid epidemic, which will take approximately 20 years to overcome.
However, the judge said that the Prosecutor's Office did not present evidence about the time necessary to combat the epidemic, nor about the annual costs necessary; Therefore, he ordered the company to pay the amount necessary for the strategy that the Oklahoma government wants to implement for only one year: $572 million.
According to The New York Times , Sabrina Strong, a lawyer for Johnson & Johnson, said that there are sufficient grounds to appeal and have the sentence removed.
Johnson & Johnson certified for empowering women
This is the first trial carried out by governments or public entities in the case of responsibility for the opioid epidemic.
However, according to the Oklahoma Attorney General's Office, there are more than 1,600 similar lawsuits pending resolution throughout the country.
The sentencing judge harshly evaluated the company that has built its reputation as a responsible manufacturer.
" We have shown that J&J was the root cause of this opioid crisis ," said Brad Beckworth, the state's top attorney.
Johnson & Johnson made billions of dollars over a 20-year period. He has always denied responsibility and, at the same time, says that he wants to make a difference in solving this problem.
Brad Beckworth, the state's top attorney.
This case was closely watched by more than 20 dozen opioid manufacturers, distributors and retailers who face more than 2,000 similar lawsuits nationwide.
A few days ago, the health news website STAT said that the Kentucky Supreme Court left pending a previous ruling to release documents related to the marketing of the opioid OxyContin by the pharmaceutical company Purdue Pharma.
According to Michael Ullmann, general counsel and executive vice president of the pharmaceutical company, “J&J did not cause the opioid crisis in Oklahoma.”
"We recognize that the opioid crisis is a serious public health problem, and we have deep sympathy for those affected."
Other scandals involving Johnson & Johnson
For more than 133 years, the company has been involved in other scandals. Last year, the firm faced a lawsuit from a woman who contracted cancer from using talcum powder from this brand.
It was not the only case, and a judge ruled that the company would have to pay 4.7 billion dollars to women who were diagnosed with the same disease, caused by its product.
Reuters reported that Johnson & Johnson knew for decades that the raw material in talcum powder could be contaminated with asbestos , and tried to cover it up.
The report caused a 10% drop in the company's share price. However, J&J called the report " false ."
" We believe unequivocally that our talc, our baby powder, does not contain asbestos," CEO Alex Gorsky.