Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., accused drug manufacturer Teva Pharmaceuticals of stonewalling an investigation into the role of opioid makers in the epidemic.
The senator said Tuesday Teva has refused to turn over key information on who it sells opioids to. The request for information is part of an ongoing investigation in the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, where McCaskill serves as ranking member.
“Teva’s refusal to cooperate with congressional requests strongly suggests they have something to hide,” McCaskill said in a statement. “I’d hope that everyone involved or associated with the company takes note that they’re dealing with an entity that’s stonewalling a Senate investigation examining a national public health crisis.”
McCaskill wrote to Teva in July 2017 for documents on any suspicious order monitoring program and more information on how it determines whether an order of opioids is suspicious.
Teva rebuffed McCaskill’s requests in October, pointing instead to conversations the company had with the senator’s staff. However, it refused to give over documents because of concerns over proprietary information and customer information.
Teva responded to the Washington Examiner that it shares McCaskill’s concern regarding the “abuse of opioids in our communities” and mentioned it has met with her staff about it.
The company added that it has worked to cease promotion of all opioid products and complies with state and federal regulations.
