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Purdue Pharma announces it will no longer market opioids to doctors

Oxycontin maker Purdue Pharma announced Saturday it would stop promoting opioids to doctors.

Oxycontin maker Purdue Pharma announced on Saturday it would no longer promote opioids to doctors.

This comes after 14 states sued the company for deceptive marketing, accusing the company of pushing the addictive painkillers.

The drug manufacturer said it will inform doctors on Monday that sales representatives will no longer visit their offices to discuss products.

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Sales representatives with Purdue Pharm will now focus on Symproic, a drug used to treat opioid-induced constipation and other potential non-opioid products.

Purdue has cut its sales force in half. It will now have about 200 sales representatives.

READ FURTHER | Task Force recommends increasing resources for opioid treatment

Doctors with opioid related questions will be directed to its medical affairs department.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that opioids were involved in more than 42,000 deaths in 2016.

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