Purdue Pharma has agreed to settle claims by 26 states and the District of Columbia for marketing and promoting OxyContin for unapproved uses i.e. for use every 8 hours as opposed to the FDA approved dosage of every 12 hours.  The states alleged that FDA rules were violated by Purdue promoting OxyContin as the painkiller “to start with and the one to stay with” for numerous kinds of pain even though the drug was specifically approved a more limited use in patients who need long-term pain management.  Further, the states contend that Purdue paid its sales force based on how much physicians prescribed OxyContin which led to the “misuse, diversion and abuse” of OxyContin according to Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal. Pursuant to the $19.5 million settlement, Purdue must immediately stop its off-label marketing and heed the warning label contained on its packaging.

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