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Insys Therapeutics founder John Kapoor convicted in US opioid case | Insys Therapeutics founder John Kapoor convicted in US opioid case |
(about 4 hours later) | |
The founder of Insys Therapeutics John Kapoor has become the first pharmaceutical boss to be convicted in a case linked to the US opioid crisis. | The founder of Insys Therapeutics John Kapoor has become the first pharmaceutical boss to be convicted in a case linked to the US opioid crisis. |
A Boston jury found Kapoor and four colleagues conspired to bribe doctors to prescribe addictive painkillers, often to patients who didn't need them. | A Boston jury found Kapoor and four colleagues conspired to bribe doctors to prescribe addictive painkillers, often to patients who didn't need them. |
The former billionaire was found guilty of racketeering conspiracy for his role in a scheme which also misled insurers. | The former billionaire was found guilty of racketeering conspiracy for his role in a scheme which also misled insurers. |
Tens of thousands of deaths have been caused by opioid overdoses in the US. | Tens of thousands of deaths have been caused by opioid overdoses in the US. |
Indian-born Kapoor founded drugmaker Insys Therapeutics in 1990 and built it into a multi-billion dollar company. | Indian-born Kapoor founded drugmaker Insys Therapeutics in 1990 and built it into a multi-billion dollar company. |
The jury found Kapoor had also misled medical insurance companies about patients' need for the painkillers in order to boost sales of the firm's fentanyl spray, Subsys. | The jury found Kapoor had also misled medical insurance companies about patients' need for the painkillers in order to boost sales of the firm's fentanyl spray, Subsys. |
The court heard that Kapoor - who was arrested in 2017 on the same day President Donald Trump declared the opioid crisis a "national emergency" - ran a scheme that paid bribes to doctors to speak at fake marketing events to promote Subsys. | The court heard that Kapoor - who was arrested in 2017 on the same day President Donald Trump declared the opioid crisis a "national emergency" - ran a scheme that paid bribes to doctors to speak at fake marketing events to promote Subsys. |
During the 10-week trial, jurors were also shown a rap video made by Insys for its employees on ways to boost sales of Subsys. | During the 10-week trial, jurors were also shown a rap video made by Insys for its employees on ways to boost sales of Subsys. |
Kapoor and his co-defendants - Michael Gurry, Richard Simon, Sunrise Lee and Joseph Rowan - face up to 20 years in prison. | Kapoor and his co-defendants - Michael Gurry, Richard Simon, Sunrise Lee and Joseph Rowan - face up to 20 years in prison. |
A statement from Kapoor's lawyer said he was "disappointed" with the verdict. The men had denied the charges and have indicated that they plan to appeal. | A statement from Kapoor's lawyer said he was "disappointed" with the verdict. The men had denied the charges and have indicated that they plan to appeal. |
Forbes listed Kapoor's net worth as $1.8bn (£1.4bn) in 2018, before dropping off the publication's billionaire rankings this year. | Forbes listed Kapoor's net worth as $1.8bn (£1.4bn) in 2018, before dropping off the publication's billionaire rankings this year. |
His conviction marks a victory for US government efforts to target companies seen to have accelerated the opioid crisis. | His conviction marks a victory for US government efforts to target companies seen to have accelerated the opioid crisis. |
The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has said that opioids - a class of drug which includes everything from heroin to legal painkillers - were involved in almost 48,000 deaths in 2017. | The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has said that opioids - a class of drug which includes everything from heroin to legal painkillers - were involved in almost 48,000 deaths in 2017. |
The epidemic started with legally prescribed painkillers, including Percocet and OxyContin. It intensified as these were diverted to the black market. | The epidemic started with legally prescribed painkillers, including Percocet and OxyContin. It intensified as these were diverted to the black market. |
There has also been a sharp rise in the use of illegal opioids including heroin, while many street drugs are laced with powerful opioids such as Fentanyl, increasing the risk of an overdose. | There has also been a sharp rise in the use of illegal opioids including heroin, while many street drugs are laced with powerful opioids such as Fentanyl, increasing the risk of an overdose. |
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