Insys Therapeutics Attacks Legalization Vote With $500,000 Donation To Prohibitionists

[t-pain]

gentlemen. short that insy stock to the bottom!

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/09/09/a-maker-of-deadly-painkillers-is-bankrolling-the-opposition-to-legal-marijuana-in-arizona/

 

 

The campaign against marijuana legalization in Arizona received a major infusion of cash last week from a synthetic cannabis drugmaker that has been investigated for alleged improper marketing of a highly addictive prescription painkiller, according to campaign finance reports.

 

The $500,000 donation from Insys Therapeutics, based in Chandler, Ariz., amounts to more than one-third of all money raised by Arizonans for Responsible Drug Policy, the group opposing legalization. It's one of the largest single contributions to any anti-legalization campaign ever, according to campaign finance records maintained by ballotpedia.com.

 

The cash infusion could even the playing field in an arena where legalization supporters have traditionally outspent opponents. Until the Insys donation, legalization supporters in Arizona had out-fundraised opponents by about 3-to-1. The Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol has raised more than $3 million, much of it from the Marijuana Policy Project, a national group working to change marijuana laws.

 

Insys has developed a drug based on a synthetic version of marijuana's active ingredient, THC. Called Syndros, the drug was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in July for treatment of symptoms in AIDS and cancer patients. It is awaiting scheduling by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

 

[One striking chart shows why pharma companies are fighting legal marijuana]

 

Insys also manufactures the deadly painkiller Subsys fentanyl. The company is facing state and federal investigations, as well as a shareholder lawsuit, over allegations that it improperly marketed the drug to doctors in an effort to boost sales.

 

In February, a former sales rep for the company pleaded guilty to fraud charges stemming from a kickback scheme involving Subsys fentanyl purchases. Last month, two former employees pleaded not guilty after being arrested for participating in a similar fentanyl kickback scheme.

 

At the time of the arrests, FBI Assistant Director Diego Rodriguez said in a statement, "This case should be something the medical industry and the general public should pay close attention to because it’s one of the reasons we’re experiencing an epidemic of overdoses and deaths in this country."

 

In an emailed statement, Insys said it opposes the Arizona ballot measure, Proposition 205, because marijuana's safety hasn't been demonstrated through the federal regulatory process.

 

Insys "has joined a broad alliance of elected officials, health care organizations and business leaders in opposing Prop. 205 because it fails to protect the safety of Arizona’s citizens, and particularly its children," the company said. "Insys firmly believes in the potential clinical benefits of cannabinoids. Like many in the healthcare community, we hope that patients will have the opportunity to benefit from these potential products once clinical trials demonstrate their safe and effective use."

 

Supporters of marijuana legalization questioned the company's motivation for getting involved in the campaign, noting its financial interest in minimizing competition for Subsys and synthetic marijuana products.

 

"It appears they are trying to kill a non-pharmaceutical market for marijuana in order to line their own pockets," said J.P Holyoak of the pro-legalization campaign in a statement.

 

Tom Angell of the pro-marijuana group Marijuana Majority said the donation blunts opponents' argument that marijuana legalization would put public safety at risk. Studies have shown that marijuana can be effective at treating chronic pain, without the overdose risk or side effects that powerful opioid painkillers, like fentanyl, can bring. Other studies have found that opioid overdose deaths fall in areas with access to medical marijuana.

 

"Accepting this money undermines everything that marijuana prohibitionists say about their desire to protect public health," Angell said in an email. "It's difficult to understand how people who profit from selling a drug like fentanyl can keep a straight face while arguing that marijuana is just too dangerous to legalize."

 

[An unprecedented number of states will vote on marijuana this fall]

 

The opposition group Arizonans for Responsible Drug policy made no apologies for accepting the contribution.

 

"We are grateful that Insys Therapeutics – an Arizona-based company – has chosen to join Governor Ducey, the Arizona Association of County School Superintendents, the Arizona Small Business Association, the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association, the Arizona Catholic Conference of Bishops, the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and several other community organizations in defeating Prop. 205 in November," said ARDP campaign manager Adam Deguire in an emailed statement.

 

Kevin Sabet of Smart Approaches to Marijuana, a national group opposed to marijuana legalization, said in an email that there was nothing particularly objectionable about Insys' efforts to oppose recreational marijuana while also working to develop synthetic drugs based on chemicals in the plant.

 

"I don't think Insys should be admonished for working on marijuana-based medications via the FDA process - they're following the rules, and that's a good thing," he said.

 

"Obviously I don't agree with aggressive fentanyl marketing," he added.

 

This isn't the first time the company has been active in marijuana politics. In 2011, the company wrote to the Drug Enforcement Administration to express opposition to loosening restrictions on natural THC, citing "the abuse potential in terms of the need to grow and cultivate substantial crops of marijuana in the United States."

 

Last year, the company petitioned the DEA to loosen restrictions on the synthetic version of another compound occurring in marijuana plants, known as cannabidiol (CBD).

 

Insys Therapeutics made $62 million in net revenue on Subsys fentanyl sales in the first quarter of this year, representing 100 percent of the company's earnings. The CDC has implicated the drug in a "surge" of overdose deaths in several states in recent years.

 

Last October, the company announced it had received a "fast track" designation from the FDA to speed development of a drug intended to treat opioid overdoses.

 

"We are encouraged by the Fast Track designation that will allow us to advance our program to address a significant unmet medical need in the market," the company said in a statement at the time. "Opioids are responsible for a high proportion of fatal drug overdoses around the world."

[+Malamute]

GW pharm engages in the same type of tactics through their subsidiary Otsuka pharma. They have paid lobbyists that have gone state to state demonizing 'raw, crude, cannabis".

 

Yeap.

[+washtenaut]

I don't think Otsuka is a subsidiary of GW.  They had a joint venture for a time in testing Sativex for cancer pain.  Otsuka helped to fund clinical trials. 

 

I believe that association has ended.

[t-pain]

lol you guys working late again

[+Malamute]

I don't think Otsuka is a subsidiary of GW.  They had a joint venture for a time in testing Sativex for cancer pain.  Otsuka helped to fund clinical trials. 

 

I believe that association has ended.

 

 

GW and Otsuka are collaborating on the US development of Sativex. The initial target indication for FDA approval is cancer pain. Sativex is currently undergoing a Phase IIb/III clinical trial in cancer pain.

Under the Sativex US licence agreement, GW has granted Otsuka an exclusive license to develop and market Sativex in the US. GW is responsible for the manufacture and supply of Sativex to Otsuka. GW and Otsuka jointly oversee all US clinical development and regulatory activities. Such activities are being carried out by GW at Otsuka’s cost.

 

 

 

GW has entered into an exclusive licence agreement for Novartis to commercialise Sativex in Australia and New Zealand, Asia (excluding Japan, China and Hong Kong), Middle East (excluding Israel/Palestine) and Africa. Under the terms of the agreement, Novartis has exclusive commercialisation rights to Sativex and will act as Marketing Authorisation holder for Sativex. GW will be responsible for the manufacture and supply of Sativex to Novartis.

 

 

 

GW has licensed Sativex’s European (ex-UK) marketing rights to Almirall. The initial target indication for European approval is MS spasticity and a regulatory submission has been filed. GW and Almirall aim in the future to expand the approved indication in Europe to include cancer pain.

Under the GW-Almirall licence agreement, Almirall hold the marketing rights in the European Union (excluding the UK), EU accession countries as well as Switzerland, Norway and Turkey. GW is responsible for the manufacture and supply of Sativex to Almirall.

 

 

GW has licensed Sativex’s UK and Canadian marketing rights to Bayer. Bayer currently market Sativex in the UK in the indication of spasticity due to multiple sclerosis and in Canada where it is approved for spasticity due to MS, neuropathic pain in MS and cancer pain. GW and Bayer aim in the future to expand the approved indication in the UK to include cancer pain.

 

 

On January 14th, 2014, Ipsen and GW Pharmaceuticals plc entered into an exclusive agreement for Ipsen to promote and distribute Sativex®, a sublingual cannabis extract spray intended for the treatment of spasticity due to multiple sclerosis (MS) in Latin America (excluding Mexico and the Islands of the Caribbean). GW will be responsible for commercial product supply to Ipsen.

 

 

The Neopharm Group hold exclusive commercial rights to Sativex in Israel/Palestine.

[+Malamute]

I don't think Otsuka is a subsidiary of GW. 

 

 

You're right. Partners.  My bad.

[cristinew]

Same people that are banning the harmless leaf Kratom. 

[CedarSpringsCG]

Kratom isn't harmless.  It is addictive.  While it may be safer than tobacco, that isn't saying too much.  If the DEA did what was right, and put in a 2 year ban so they could study the effects and make sure it was harmless, that would be OK, but we know they will block all studies and tests, then after 2 years say that nothing has proven it to be safe and therefore it needs a permanent ban, which is pure crap.

 

All I gotta say about inersys whatever, is KEEP MONEY OUT OF POLITICS!  If it were only voters that could donate, we wouldn't have to worry about corporate lies and deceit.

[AmishRnot4ganja]

Kratom isn't harmless.  It is addictive.  While it may be safer than tobacco, that isn't saying too much.  If the DEA did what was right, and put in a 2 year ban so they could study the effects and make sure it was harmless, that would be OK, but we know they will block all studies and tests, then after 2 years say that nothing has proven it to be safe and therefore it needs a permanent ban, which is pure crap.

 

All I gotta say about inersys whatever, is KEEP MONEY OUT OF POLITICS!  If it were only voters that could donate, we wouldn't have to worry about corporate lies and deceit.

Yes, but let's not forget that corporations are people too comrade...er, I mean my friend.

[Indigro]

Wouldnt it be nice to have educated and trained professionals in the role of government officials, where they were insulated from bias, influence and personal gain... Where there were standards, and oversight, and accountability. Instilled w a set of operating values such as fairness and altruism...?

 

Nah, nevermind.

[AmishRnot4ganja]

Wouldnt it be nice to have educated and trained professionals in the role of government officials, where they were insulated from bias, influence and personal gain... Where there were standards, and oversight, and accountability. Instilled w a set of operating values such as fairness and altruism...?

Nah, nevermind.

I think this is what we had prior to the Republican Revolution that systematically cut government to the point that it no longer functions. But... They keep getting voted into office so apparently this is what people want. Just please don't complain if you are a Republican voter. It smacks of hypocrisy or just plain ignorance.

[phaquetoo]

Yes, but let's not forget that corporations are people too comrade...er, I mean my friend.

true but the corporations vote dont count as all of their employee's vote,

 

Peace

[Indigro]

I think this is what we had prior to the Republican Revolution that systematically cut government to the point that it no longer functions. But... They keep getting voted into office so apparently this is what people want. Just please don't complain if you are a Republican voter. It smacks of hypocrisy or just plain ignorance.

Im thinking more along the lines of changing the system, and the players. We start out w a set of operating values, then train them accordingly just as a doctor would... Post grad degrees specializing in public service and administration. We alter the actual system to lock out special interests and outside money, set tough restrictions and enforce them. Have a formalized citizen review process, where they are evaluated and can be fired. We hold them accountable including criminal prosecution for abuses. They should be trained professionals that are operating for the benefit of the common person, not themselves or those looking to exercise power and control over others. But it all starts with clearly identifying and outlining proper values.

 

Dont think we have any of this, nor have we ever, nor has anyone else. It is almost antithetical to the assumptions of modern government.

[CedarSpringsCG]

true but the corporations vote dont count as all of their employee's vote,

 

Peace

What you aren't thinking of, is that some companies tell their employees how to vote, and the corporation can spend sometimes $10-50 MILLION dollars on advertising that can be completely false (through a SuperPac).  If a company really wants a vote to go their way, they spend millions on ads, and they don't even tell the truth.  They can make an ad that says Joe Politician is a pedophile, and air it primetime for a month... And the worst that will happen to them is they will have to put an ad out saying it was incorrect, which they will air for a month at 2 am when no one is watching.  And at most they will just move the money to a new SuperPac and then dissolve the old one.

 

So, when they can lie on TV and say anything they want, their vote ends up counting 1000x more than anyone.

 

I mean, if you had never smoked cannabis before in your life, and didn't know anyone that admitted it to you, a recreational bill comes up to vote, and all you see are ads saying that teen use in Colorado has spiked 500%, crime is rampant, and the rehab centers are overrun...  You haven't been to Colorado, so you don't know the difference, sounds like a bad deal, most people in this situation would then vote NO for recreational...  Of course, teen use is down, crime is down, taxes are up, schools have more money than they need... but that's not what you have been told.

 

And yes, they do these things. 

[cristinew]

Kratom isn't harmless.  It is addictive.  While it may be safer than tobacco, that isn't saying too much.  If the DEA did what was right, and put in a 2 year ban so they could study the effects and make sure it was harmless, that would be OK, but we know they will block all studies and tests, then after 2 years say that nothing has proven it to be safe and therefore it needs a permanent ban, which is pure crap.

 

All I gotta say about inersys whatever, is KEEP MONEY OUT OF POLITICS!  If it were only voters that could donate, we wouldn't have to worry about corporate lies and deceit.

For DEA to place a substance, on a temporary basis, into Schedule I when necessary to avoid an imminent hazard to the public safety.  And there is no case for this,

 

You have no facts to post garbage like this   Kratom isn't harmless.  It is addictive.  DEA is unilaterally outlawing the possession of kratom at the same time that Health Canada, a regulatory agency with which the US coordinates closely, lists kratom as a permitted Natural Health Product (NHP).

CONCLUSIONS:

These findings revealed that the medicinal and nutitional values of mitragynine obtained from ketum leaves that growth in tropical forest of Southeast Asia and its analogues does not limited to analgesic properties but could be promising antioxidant and anticancer or chemopreventive compounds. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25081682 

 

Kratom is non-habit forming, unless taken in extremely high doses for extended periods of time. If taken in excess, continuously over long periods of time, Kratom consumers may experience dependence, similar to caffeine dependence. 

 

To compare this herb ,to tobacco is just plain stupid on your part, 0 people have died from kratom  on the other hand tobacco has killed million and is addictive, 

Edited September 16, 2016 by cristinew