Should NH Att. Gen. join Suboxone lawsuit?

Thirty-five states, including Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont, are suing drug manufacturer Reckitt Benckiser (Invidior) for deliberately trying to prevent or delay the release of generic medications that would compete with their drug Suboxone. 

Suboxone is a prescription drug that can reduce cravings for opioids. It is used to treat opioid addiction.

The lawsuit alleges that Suboxone’s manufacturers replaced the pill form of Suboxone with a dissolving film, then argued that the pill form was not safe for children. This created confusion which prevented other, cheaper pills from competing with Suboxone, which meant that consumers--including state health programs--paid more for the drug than they would have in a genuinely competitive market. The FDA ultimately found that the film was not any safer than pills.

The states participating in the lawsuit are demanding that the manufacturer pay back profits earned as a result of alleged unfair practices.

New Hampshire has not joined the lawsuit against Suboxone’s manufacturers, however. Attorney General Joe Foster has not commented on the lawsuit.

Some opponents of the lawsuit argue that Reckitt Benckiser’s tactics are not illegal and are in fact common in the pharmaceutical industry.

Others argue that the best way to make opioid addiction treatment affordable is to make sure insurance companies are providing coverage for Suboxone and its alternatives.

Do you think New Hampshire should join the Suboxone lawsuit? Let us know in the comments.