FDA issues warning letter to drug distributor McKesson for allegedly shipping 'illegitimate' opioid

Source: CNBC

The Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday it has sent a warning letter to drug distributor McKessson for allegedly shipping "illegitimate" opioid products and failing to properly handle and investigate the incidents.

Specifically, the FDA is accusing McKesson of failing to identify, quarantine and investigate drug shipments that had been tampered with. Some of the bad shipments were discovered at three Rite Aid pharmacies in Michigan. This is the first time the FDA has issued a warning letter under the 2013 Drug Supply Chain Security Act.

Distributors have come under fire for their role in the opioid crisis. McKesson and Cardinal Health are the subject of numerous lawsuits alleging they flooded communities with opioids.

"A distributor's failure to have systems in place to investigate and quarantine suspect and illegitimate products within their control is a violation of the law. But this is even more concerning given that we're in the midst of a widespread opioid crisis," FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said in a statement.

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Angelica LaVito
Published 7 Hours Ago Updated 5 Hours Ago


Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/12/fda-warns-mckesson-about-tampered-opioid-shipments.html