Johnson & Johnson, Teva, others face federal criminal probe into opioid sales
Facing thousands of state and local civil lawsuits, opioid makers are scrambling to sign a deal to escape the multibillion-dollar consequences. However, they may soon have bigger issues. Federal prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into claims opioid makers and distributors willfully violated the Controlled Substance Act by allowing those drugs to be used for nonmedical purposes.
So far, at least six drugmakers and distributors––J&J, Teva, Mallinckrodt, Amneal, AmerisourceBergen, and McKesson––have acknowledged receiving federal subpoenas in Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
