Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter on June 30 filed a lawsuit against drugmakers for allegedly engaging in a fraudulent opioid advertising campaign that contributed to the rising rates of opioid overdoses in the state, according to Reuters.
The suit, filed in Cleveland County District Court, names Purdue Pharma, Johnson & Johnson, Allergan and units of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries as defendants.
The lawsuit alleges the drugmakers conducted a "fraudulent, decades-long marketing campaign to profit from the suffering of thousands of Oklahomans," said Mr. Hunter, according to Reuters. "The companies knowingly marketed their drugs as safe for chronic pain management while downplaying the risk of opioid dependency."
With the suit, Oklahoma joins the ranks of states like Ohio and Missouri, where state AGs previously filed similar lawsuits.
In statements obtained by Reuters, Johnson & Johnson said its medications carry U.S. Food and Drug Administration-mandated warnings; Allergan said it supports the safe, responsible use of prescription medications; Teva said it is committed to the promotion of safe opioid use; and Purdue said it denies the lawsuit's allegations, but shares Mr. Hunter's concerns regarding the opioid epidemic.