On Feb. 12, 2018, the PBS News Hour reported that companies selling the most lucrative prescription painkillers funneled millions of dollars to advocacy groups promoting the medication's use.

This investigation by Missouri's Sen. Claire McCaskill showed us just how the opioid industry was able to shape public opinion thus creating an epidemic claiming hundreds of thousands of lives. Calling this action "Advocacy Funding", the investigation reveals a snapshot of the insight into how industry-funded groups fueled demand for drugs such as OxyContin and Vicodin, addictive medications generating billions of dollars in sales.

Why bring this up now?

Apparently, this is such a successful marketing strategy that it is worth repeating. 

Harm Reduction Therapeutics Inc (HRT) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit pharmaceutical company whose mission is to prevent overdose deaths by making free of charge or low-cost over the counter naloxone available to everyone.  Started in 2017, HRT was granted $1,550,000 in 2019 from Purdue Pharma, its only contribution received in that year. In 2020, HRT had revenues of $9,000,000 from one contributor - Purdue Pharma. In 2022, Purdue granted HRT $11,000,000. Again, its only contributor. Note that in years where Purdue did not contribute, there was no revenue.

In August 2024, the FDA approved Purdue's nalmefene injection, Zurnai, similar to Narcan, to treat known or suspected overdoses in adults and children 12 and older. The injection works for pharmaceutical and synthetic opioids including fentanyl. 

Why this matters?

Pharmaceutical companies stand to make billions on sales of overdose treatments such as Narcan and Zurnai. As long as opioid settlement money continues to trickle down and provide free Narcan, this is affordable however the funds are already expected to drop off substantially over the next few years. Will insurance companies pick up the slack? I would hate to count on it. Narcan can now be purchased over the counter at a price of $44.99 a box. Who will afford this?