Indivior Indicted for Suboxone Marketing Scheme

A federal grand jury in Virginia has indicted drugmaker Indivior for allegedly running a nationwide scheme to increase subscriptions of its Suboxone film (buprenorphine and naloxone) opioid dependence treatment.

The U.K.-based drugmaker is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, mail fraud and health care fraud. Indivior allegedly tricked healthcare providers and benefits programs into believing that Suboxone sublingual film was a safer treatment and less susceptible to diversion, reaping billions of dollars in revenue through the deception.

The company also allegedly attempted to increase its profits by launching a patient assistance program, the “Here to Help Program.” The program intentionally linked opioid-addicted patients to doctors Indivior knew prescribed Suboxone and other opioids frequently and unnecessarily — and in higher amounts than allowed by federal law, the indictment alleges.

“The indictment alleges that, rather than marketing its opioid-addiction drug responsibly, Indivior promoted it with a disregard for the truth about its safety and despite known risks of diversion and abuse,” said Assistant Attorney General Jody Hunt.