Trial begins in alleged kickback conspiracy involving fentanyl spray

WEBVTT EMILY: WAS IT A KICKBACK CONSPIRACY FUELED BY PERSONAL GREED OR SIMPLY A PRESCRIBER TRYING TO HELP HIS PATIENTS WITH PAIN? BEN: THAT’S WHAT JURORS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE MUST DECIDE. IT’S THE FIRST OF SEVERAL EXPECTED TRIALS INVOLVING THE ALLEGED OVER-PRESCRIBING OF A POWERFUL FENTANYL SPRAY. EMILY: 5 INVESTIGATES’ KAREN ANDERSON’S BEEN FOLLOWING THIS . KAREN: CHRISTOPHER CLOUGH SEEN HERE — PROSECUTORS SAY HE OVERPRESCRIBED THE COMPANY’S POWERFUL AND ADDICTIVE FENTANYL SPRAY CALLED SUBSYS, ALL MOTIVATED BY GREED. HE IS ACCUSED OF ACCEPTING NEARLY $50,000 IN KICKBACKS, DINNERS IN BOSTON OR PORTSMOUTH, DISGUISED AS SPEAKING PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE THE DRUG. CLOUGH’S ATTORNEYS SAY HE WAS SIMPLY TRYING TO HELP HIS PATIENTS DEAL WITH THEIR PAIN AND ACCEPTED THE FEES BECAUSE HE BELIEVED IN PROMOTING THE DRUG. SUBSYS WAS APPROVED FOR USE FOR EXTREME CANCER PAIN, BUT PROSECUTORS SAY COMPANY EXECUTIVES PUSHED PROVIDERS LIKE CLOUGH TO PRESCRIBE IT FOR EVERY DAY PAIN MANAGEMENT. CLOUGH’S PATIENTS INCLUDED MACKENZIE COLBY WHO TOLD 5 INVESTIGATES CLOUGH PRESCRIBED HER SUBSYS FOR BACK PAIN. SHE SAYS IT SHOWED UP ON HER DOORSTEP ONE DAY, AND BEFORE SHE KNEW, SHE WAS HOOKED. >> I GOT TO THE POINT WHERE I WASN’T TAKING IT FOR PAIN ANYMORE. I WAS TAKING IT TO JUST SO I WOULDN’T BE SICK ANYMORE. KAREN: A FORMER SALES MANAGER FOR INSYS TOLD JURORS HOW SALES REPS WERE TOLD TO FIND ONE PRESCRIBER IN THEIR TERRITORY AND REWARD THEM WITH PAYMENTS FOR PRESCRIPTIONS. IT’S A PREVIEW TO WHAT JURORS ARE EXPECTED TO HEAR IN NEXT MONTH’S TRIAL IN BOSTON WHERE THE INSYS FOUNDER AND OTHER EXECUTIVES ARE FACING CRIMINAL CHARGES. TESTIMONY HERE AND CRUEL — CONCLUDED WITH THE SALES REP SAYING HE SHOULD B

5 Investigates: Trial begins in alleged kickback conspiracy involving fentanyl spray

Updated: 6:02 PM EST Dec 12, 2018

Was it a kickback conspiracy fueled by personal greed, or simply a prescriber trying to help his patients with pain? Jurors in New Hampshire will have to decide.