Pfizer has vowed to follow a written code of conduct for the marketing of opioids, according to The Washington Post.
The terms of the agreement were reached with the city of Chicago on Wednesday. Pfizer will disclose addiction risks in its promotional material for narcotic painkillers and acknowledge the lack of research regarding opioid's effectiveness after 12 weeks of use. Pfizer also vows not to advertise opioids for unapproved uses, like long-term back pain.
Currently, New York City-based Pfizer only promotes one opioid, Embeda.
Chicago's fight against the national opioid epidemic ties back to two years ago, when the city sued five opioid manufacturers, citing their use of deceptive marketing tactics. Pfizer was not named in the lawsuit and has helped the city's investigation efforts.
"We hope that this trailblazing agreement…will set the bar for others in this industry," said Stephen R. Patton, Chicago's corporation counsel.
More articles on the drug market:
Shortage of stress test dye linked to more invasive procedures
Sanofi, U.S. Army partner to speed up Zika vaccine development
NuVasive acquires Biotronic NeuroNetwork for $98M