Off-label use of narcotic raises questions

Narcotic painkiller Actiq, which is FDA-approved only for use in treating cancer pain, is widely prescribed for conditions such as migraines and backache as well. With growing numbers of patients becoming addicted to Actiq, which contains fentanyl, government regulators and physicians are investigating whether drug-maker Cephalon has been illegally marketing off-label use to physicians. Despite its approved target audience, oncologists accounted for only 1 percent of the 187,076 Actiq prescriptions filled at retail pharmacies in the U.S. during the first six months of 2006, The Wall Street Journal reported. Now FDA regulators are investigating whether Cephalon marketers have targeted non-oncologists. The drug maker does not dispute that it sends its drug reps to specialists of many stripes, but disputes charges that it is violating FDA requirements.

Get the whole Actiq story:
- read this piece in the Wall Street Journal (sub. req.)

Related Article:
The FDA approves Cephalon's Fentora for cancer pain. Report