WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Edward J. Markey, a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and author of drug safety legislation incorporated into the Food and Drug Administration reform bill currently pending in the House-Senate conference committee, released a statement in response to today’s decision by a federal judge to fine the maker of OxyContin and three executives $624.5 million for misleading the public about its risk of addiction.

Rep. Markey said, “Every day drug companies send their representatives out to persuade doctors to prescribe their products. We must ensure that the industry’s sales pitches do not overstate the benefits while understating risks to the public health. Today’s verdict suggests that the maker of OxyContin was willing to intentionally mislead physicians to boost sales. These types of deceptive marketing practices are unconscionable and must be stopped.

“We need to give the FDA the authority to review marketing claims made by drugmakers to prevent the type of puffery that paints an inaccurate picture of a drug’s risks and benefits.”

The Waxman-Markey drug safety language that passed the House of Representatives earlier this month would give the FDA the authority to have access to drugmakers’ marketing information and block the dissemination of false or misleading information.

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