DOJ subpoenas Mallinckrodt over opioids

Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals (NYSE:MNK) said yesterday that it received a subpoena from the U.S. Dept. of Justice requesting information related to its marketing practices and sales of opioids.

The company, which manufactures only generic and non-promoted branded opioids, said that it has worked to prevent misuse and diversion of its products, pointing to efforts like its testimonies on behalf of the prosecution in drug diversion cases.

“The company will cooperate fully with the DOJ on this matter,” Mallinckrodt wrote in a prepared statement.

“To truly make an impact on opioid abuse and misuse, all stakeholders must work together to address this national problem in a comprehensive, thoughtful manner. Mallinckrodt continues to work toward being a part of the solution,” the company added.

Last month, Mallinckrodt inked a $35 million settlement with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. attorneys offices in Michigan and New York, according to the St. Louis Business Journal.

The company rejected allegations that it broke the law regarding its monitoring programs for controlled substances.

Opioid abuse is rampant in the U.S. – 91 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. Opioids including fentanyl and hydrocodone kill more than twice as many people as they did a decade ago.

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