Maryland AG Targets Insys for Alleged Subsys Fraud

Maryland’s Attorney General filed charges against Insys Therapeutics over alleged violations of the state’s Consumer Protection Act, saying the company joined local health care providers in an “unfair and deceptive scheme” to promote its breakthrough pain drug Subsys.

The drug is indicated specifically for treatment of breakthrough pain in adult cancer patients but, according to the charges filed by the state’s Consumer Protection Division, Insys paid tens of thousands of dollars in kickbacks to induce physicians to prescribe Subsys to patients with conditions such as chronic pain syndrome, migraines and knee and back pain.

The CPD claims the company specifically marketed Subsys to “pill mill” providers with an existing reputation for prescribing high-risk drugs.