By Jon Kamp
West Virginia's attorney general has filed a lawsuit seeking to
block 14 drug distributors from shipping controlled substances like
pain pills for non-medical purposes while alleging the companies
have benefited from the state's prescription drug-abuse
problem.
The suit targets big distributors like Cardinal Health Inc.
(CAH), AmerisourceBergen Corp. (ABC), Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc.
(WPI) distribution unit Anda Inc. and several small firms. State
Attorney General Darrell McGraw said the lawsuit is also aimed at
recovering damages, creating medical-monitoring for drug-abuse
victims and forcing companies to promptly alert state authorities
when they see suspicious orders.
"With today's filing, we are seeking to make major drug
distributors that have substantially benefitted from prescription
drug abuse accept responsibility and pay for their illicit
actions," McGraw said in a press release, issued Tuesday.
The state aims to cut off distribution routes that are part of
the "pill mill" process, Mr. McGraw said. The release cited data
showing West Virginia is "the nation's most medicated state",
filling nearly seven more prescriptions per person each year than
the U.S. average. The lawsuit was filed in the Circuit Court in
Boone County, W. Va.
Pharmaceutical distributors provide a bridge between drug
manufacturers and the nation's vast network of retail pharmacies.
Authorities had targeted them before for allegedly not doing enough
to recognize and stop the flow of addictive pain pills, which may
start with doctors who write prescriptions for non-medical
purposes.
In May, Cardinal Health settled government accusations that it
distributed large volumes of addictive pain medication in Florida
without proper controls. The company accepted a two-year suspension
of its Drug Enforcement Administration license to ship controlled
substances from a big distribution center in the state while
promising to improve procedures to prevent the illegal diversion of
drugs.
Cardinal spokesman Debbie Mitchell said the company just learned
of the lawsuit, is reviewing it and doesn't have an immediate
comment on the matter.
Watson spokesman Charlie Mayr said the company's Anda
distribution business has sophisticated methods of monitoring order
patterns and immediately ceases shipments and launches
investigations when it finds suspicious activity. Watson also makes
generic pain drugs such as oxycodone.
"We take this very seriously," Mr. Mayr said. Watson did not
have a comment on the lawsuit.
An AmerisourceBergen spokesman could not be reached early
Wednesday.
Write to Jon Kamp at jon.kamp@dowjones.com