FT News Briefing

The inside story of a disgraced drugmaker

Jun 19, 2020

Hannah Kuchler, FT's pharmaceutical correspondent, dives deep into the shocking story of Insys Therapeutics, the first drugmaker executives imprisoned for their role in the opioid crisis. She reveals their disturbing bribery schemes aimed at getting doctors to prescribe dangerous fentanyl. The discussion highlights how aggressive marketing overwhelmed ethical practices, contributing directly to widespread addiction. Kuchler also discusses the crucial role of whistleblowers in bringing these legal battles to light and the continuing impact of this scandal on the pharmaceutical industry.

12:10

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Episode guests

Hannah Kuchler

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Episode notes

Intro

2min

The Rise and Fall of a Controversial Fentanyl Drugmaker

2min

Pharmaceutical Ambiguities: The Insys Controversy

5min

Unpacking the Legal Fallout of a Disgraced Drugmaker

3min

Business Updates and Fashion Trends

2min

Executives from drugmaker Insys were the first from the pharmaceutical sector to be handed prison time for their role in America’s opioid epidemic earlier this year. The FT and the PBS series Frontline have investigated why the warning signs around the company were ignored for so long. FT pharmaceutical correspondent Hannah Kuchler tells Marc Filippino what they uncovered.

Read the story at ft.com/insys.

The PBS Frontline documentary, Opioids, Inc. is available for streaming online at PBS.org beginning Friday June 19, and will premiere on American PBS stations on Tuesday, June 23. For more information visit: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/opioids-inc/.

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