CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - A judge in New Hampshire has refused to dismiss a lawsuit by the state against Purdue Pharma over allegations that the drug manufacturer used deceptive marketing of OxyContin in a state hard hit by the opioid crisis.
Merrimack Superior Court Judge John Kissinger on Tuesday denied Purdue Pharma’s request to dismiss counts of deceptive marketing, false claims and unfair competition in the lawsuit that was filed last year. Kissinger did, however, dismiss the count that the company unjustly enriched itself.
In its civil complaint, the state alleges Purdue Pharma downplayed the drug’s risk of addiction, overstated its effectiveness, and claimed it is nearly impossible to abuse.
Similar lawsuits have been filed by other state, county and local governments accusing prescription opioid manufacturers of fraud and deceptive marketing.
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