(University at Buffalo/Reuters)The founder of an Arizona-based pharmaceutical company has been charged with spearheading a “nationwide conspiracy” to illegally distribute fentanyl, a powerful prescription painkiller. John N. Kapoor, 74, was charged with numerous felonies, including RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization) conspiracy and wire fraud. Prosecutors allege Kapoor, the founder of Insys Therapeutics, colluded with doctors and pharmacies to prescribe fentanyl that was not medically necessary and defraud insurance companies for payment. Fentanyl is now a major part of the opioid epidemic — deaths from the synthetic narcotics including fentanyl jumped 72.2 percent from 2014 to 2015, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Medical fentanyl is different from the fentanyl found on the street, which is typically manufactured illicitly in China.

Source: Washington Post October 26, 2017 20:48 UTC