| (back) |
| RE: Purdue Pharma and Mass
Marketing of OxyContin Dear Mr. Abrams: On January 17, 2003 Purdue Pharma LP received a 7 page Warning Letter from you as the Director of DDMAC requiring that they comply with the stipulations set forth in the letter by January 24, 2003. To date Purdue Pharma’s reply has not been made public by the FDA. As we review extensive marketing violations by Purdue Pharma over the past decade, it is obvious that Purdue Pharma is more than aware of their less than honest and misleading marketing tactics. We have only been privy to the Public Relations statement from Purdue Pharma in which they refer to the FDA warning letter as an “honest misunderstanding.” Purdue Pharma has been less than honest while marketing OxyContin and we feel they are in no position to make the excuse of an “honest misunderstanding.” What is even more disturbing, Mr. Abrams is that you are aware, as evidenced by the number of warning letters you have issued Purdue Pharma over the years for their drugs M.S. Contin and OxyContin, that they violate FDA regulations in their marketing of Schedule II narcotics . Since you are the Director of DDMAC, our question to you is why is the FDA holding Purdue Pharma’s reply letter? We believe very strongly, based on the serious charges contained in your letter to Purdue Pharma and the potential for risk to people taking OxyContin, that the reply letter should not be for private viewing by the FDA. We have been aggressively working for the past few months on having Purdue Pharma market OxyContin honestly – now we expect that the government agency in place to protect the American people against dishonest marketing – will act swiftly and efficiently to release Purdue Pharma’s reply letter in an effort to end the epidemic that is spreading through our country by a mass marketed and addictive narcotic called OxyContin. We await the immediate release of Purdue Pharma’s letter. Marianne Skolek |
| (back) |