I'm the author of the New York Times Magazine article about Insys

[evanhughes]

Evan Hughes, NY Times Journalist, why haven’t you or any of your colleagues in media or print EXPOSED Purdue Pharmaceuticals as the original and longest-running drug kingpins in the opioid epidemic? Why has three plus decades past wherein this privately held multi billion dollar manufacturer of OxyContin that spent millions to market PAIN as a vital sign and millions more to persuade physicians to prescribe inordinate amounts of pills to patients bypassed as a company to headline The NY Times? If there are approximately 29,000 deaths reported in the recent year to opioid overdose- the egregiously highest percentage of which is OXYCODONE- then why, Evan Hughes, are you not investigating the longstanding relationships between Lobbyists and Purdue Executives, Manage Care Plans and Purdue Managed Markets, and Government Officials and Purdue Founders? INSYS Therapeutics is no doubt guilty for illegal marketing and kickbacks that have been exposed over the last several years, an obviously major crime since Medicare fraud involves the Government, but EXPONENTIALLY, the ubiquitous OxyContin, the pernicious growth of abuse fueled by PRIVATELY HELD PURDUE has debilitated the US society and economy more than any pharmaceutical company to date. Thousands are dead because of this extended release and that multipled into countless overseas generic imitations sold on the black market.

Why, Evan Hughes, are you looking for smoke in an old campfire when there’s an erupting volcano in the same valley?

Thank you and to all for serious replies.

Thanks for the post. I am still the author of the article and now I am posting from the username evanhughes. I realize this won't solve the verification problem (maybe I will figure that one out), but perhaps this will at least help with the imposter problem. Again, I can be reached at evanhughes@gmail.com and 917-538-3096.

About the Purdue Pharma story, you might be interested to know that NYT journalist Barry Meier's book Pain Killer, about OxyContin and Purdue and the origins of the opioid crisis, is soon to be reissued: https://www.amazon.com/Pain-Killer-Empire-Americas-Epidemic/dp/0525511105. I would also recommend a recent feature in The New Yorker magazine about the Sackler family and Purdue: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/10/30/the-family-that-built-an-empire-of-pain. The Los Angeles Times also did significant investigative work on the subject, as did (onetime LAT staffer) Sam Quinones in his book "Dreamland." Purdue has stayed out of court by settling cases before they reach trial, and as you point out, the company is privately held. These two factors pose significant barriers to journalists, and I think the work they have done in spite of those barriers is notable. The health news outlet STAT, owned by Boston Globe Media, recently went to court to petition a judge to lift the seal on documents that Purdue produced in pretrial discovery in a Kentucky case, before the case was settled. A judge ruled in favor of STAT, but Purdue appealed the ruling and no final ruling has been made.

 

[evanhughes]

Evan,
While you are mired in the muck that is the morally bankrupt executives at Insys, you should consider following up with the equally bankrupt law enforcement officials pursuing them. The egregiously overzealous scare tactics being employed against the innocent or unknowing underlings for plea deals is as disgusting as the overall business plan at Insys. EVERYONE on The Street knew most of the sales reps were hired BECAUSE they had no experience (as much as for what they looked like).

The stories of people's ruined lives from being addicted to painkillers for profits is beyond sad. But our government pretending they care and bulldozing people to get "cooperation" deals in order to score cheap political points is equally as nauseating.

Let me know when your follow-up is due.

Appreciate the feedback, sincerely. I'm curious, when you say "The Street," are you using that term to refer to Wall Street or people in the pharmaceutical industry or...?

 

[anonymous]

Appreciate the feedback, sincerely. I'm curious, when you say "The Street," are you using that term to refer to Wall Street or people in the pharmaceutical industry or...?

Wall Street. Wall Street is always looking for a good story. This seemed like one. All it took was 2 hours on LinkedIn and a conversation with a few new sales reps to KNOW what was happening. This knowledge would yield an even better (short) story.

 

[anonymous]

Thanks for the post. I am still the author of the article and now I am posting from the username evanhughes. I realize this won't solve the verification problem (maybe I will figure that one out), but perhaps this will at least help with the imposter problem. Again, I can be reached at evanhughes@gmail.com and 917-538-3096.

About the Purdue Pharma story, you might be interested to know that NYT journalist Barry Meier's book Pain Killer, about OxyContin and Purdue and the origins of the opioid crisis, is soon to be reissued: https://www.amazon.com/Pain-Killer-Empire-Americas-Epidemic/dp/0525511105. I would also recommend a recent feature in The New Yorker magazine about the Sackler family and Purdue: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/10/30/the-family-that-built-an-empire-of-pain. The Los Angeles Times also did significant investigative work on the subject, as did (onetime LAT staffer) Sam Quinones in his book "Dreamland." Purdue has stayed out of court by settling cases before they reach trial, and as you point out, the company is privately held. These two factors pose significant barriers to journalists, and I think the work they have done in spite of those barriers is notable. The health news outlet STAT, owned by Boston Globe Media, recently went to court to petition a judge to lift the seal on documents that Purdue produced in pretrial discovery in a Kentucky case, before the case was settled. A judge ruled in favor of STAT, but Purdue appealed the ruling and no final ruling has been made.

 

[anonymous]

Yesterday the story appeared in print, and today the stock climbed more than 2%. This company is unstoppable!

 

[anonymous]

Yesterday the story appeared in print, and today the stock climbed more than 2%. This company is unstoppable!

Lmao! You ride that $6 stock high buddy! I’m still sitting on what I cashed in on in 2013, 14 and 15 before it all came crashing down. All these tools sitting around at Insys thinking the good ol days will miraculously appear again. You’d have better luck trying your hand in Vegas!

 

[anonymous]

Lmao! You ride that $6 stock high buddy! I’m still sitting on what I cashed in on in 2013, 14 and 15 before it all came crashing down. All these tools sitting around at Insys thinking the good ol days will miraculously appear again. You’d have better luck trying your hand in Vegas!

I don’t have stock in Insys - I never have. I was just surprised the direction it went yesterday.
You however, seem very proud of the fortune you made while people’s lives were ruined. Good for you.

 

[anonymous]

This is a fact. I was just a sales rep at Insys not an executive. The government made me LIE as well as twist my words around. I can not afford an attorney and was threatened and forced to lie to avoid a “very long incarceration”. To see this post makes me beyond angry - to know others were forced to lie as well! The bigger story is most definitely the morally bankrupt law enforcement officials that my tax dollars are paying to get away with these unspeakable, corrupt and unethical scare tactics. DISGUSTING.

Evan,
While you are mired in the muck that is the morally bankrupt executives at Insys, you should consider following up with the equally bankrupt law enforcement officials pursuing them. The egregiously overzealous scare tactics being employed against the innocent or unknowing underlings for plea deals is as disgusting as the overall business plan at Insys. EVERYONE on The Street knew most of the sales reps were hired BECAUSE they had no experience (as much as for what they looked like).

The stories of people's ruined lives from being addicted to painkillers for profits is beyond sad. But our government pretending they care and bulldozing people to get "cooperation" deals in order to score cheap political points is equally as nauseating.

Let me know when your follow-up is due.

 

[anonymous]

Poor Baby Rep was the government mean to you?
Did you ever think it was odd you went from selling shoes to selling prescription opioids with unlimited bonus?
Did you refuse any bonuses?

If you are back to selling shoes be grateful you will not be joining your moron buddies in jail...

 

[anonymous]

Evan,

Have you checked out the Insys Board of Directors?

The top guy Patrick (Inspector Clouseau) Forteau was proud to tell everyone he was the Architect of Insys.

He made a ton from Insys and other companies where he duped investors.
He caused Shionogi to fire their entire sales force after paying too much for his inflated company Sciele.

He makes the Sacklers look like nice guys.

 

[anonymous]

Poor Baby Rep was the government mean to you?
Did you ever think it was odd you went from selling shoes to selling prescription opioids with unlimited bonus?
Did you refuse any bonuses?

If you are back to selling shoes be grateful you will not be joining your moron buddies in jail...

I’m assuming you either already know this or are too dumb/naive to understand but I will state this anyway.

I doubt she (percentages would suggest it is a she) thought it was “odd” that her company was asking her to do anything illegal - most companies do not.
And even if she thought it was “odd”, doing something “odd” should not be the trigger for making this type of behavior from our government acceptable.

Also, I don’t think “accepting a bonus” makes you complicit. By you saying this, it leads me to believe that you were there, but you didn’t get many bonuses because you weren’t finding doctors who become prescribers (which is your job). So either you weren’t setting up speaker programs because you believed them be “wrong” or weren’t good at your job - i.e. you are either complicit in your silence or incompetent.

Finally, not many of the sales reps were selling shoes prior to this.

 

[anonymous]

I’m assuming you either already know this or are too dumb/naive to understand but I will state this anyway.

I doubt she (percentages would suggest it is a she) thought it was “odd” that her company was asking her to do anything illegal - most companies do not.
And even if she thought it was “odd”, doing something “odd” should not be the trigger for making this type of behavior from our government acceptable.

Also, I don’t think “accepting a bonus” makes you complicit. By you saying this, it leads me to believe that you were there, but you didn’t get many bonuses because you weren’t finding doctors who become prescribers (which is your job). So either you weren’t setting up speaker programs because you believed them be “wrong” or weren’t good at your job - i.e. you are either complicit in your silence or incompetent.

Finally, not many of the sales reps were selling shoes prior to this.

I wouldn’t interview a former Insys employee for ANY type of job.

Totally and irreversibly radioactive.

 

[evanhughes]

If you would like to discuss this further, I would like to hear more. I hope you'll get in touch.

This is a fact. I was just a sales rep at Insys not an executive. The government made me LIE as well as twist my words around. I can not afford an attorney and was threatened and forced to lie to avoid a “very long incarceration”. To see this post makes me beyond angry - to know others were forced to lie as well! The bigger story is most definitely the morally bankrupt law enforcement officials that my tax dollars are paying to get away with these unspeakable, corrupt and unethical scare tactics. DISGUSTING.

This is a fact. I was just a sales rep at Insys not an executive. The government made me LIE as well as twist my words around. I can not afford an attorney and was threatened and forced to lie to avoid a “very long incarceration”. To see this post makes me beyond angry - to know others were forced to lie as well! The bigger story is most definitely the morally bankrupt law enforcement officials that my tax dollars are paying to get away with these unspeakable, corrupt and unethical scare tactics. DISGUSTING.

 

[Evan Hughes]

Please do not hesitate to reply. Many have already come forward. Please fact check my work for any misunderstandings. This would help professionally and do what is right for Americans $$

 

[patient]

Evan have you had any conversation with patients of the doctors who took the kickbacks??

 

[evanhughes]

I have, but I would like very much to speak to more. If you’d like to contact me, I hope you do. It’s evanhughes@gmail.com and (917) 538-3096.

Evan have you had any conversation with patients of the doctors who took the kickbacks??

Evan have you had any conversation with patients of the doctors who took the kickbacks??

 

[anonymous]

You are full of Sh&$!

 

[anonymous]

That last response was from Krazy Kapoor. He is under a lot of stress.

 

[anonymous]

I tried calling the number above and it was fake. Toni, Toni, Toni actually answered.

 

[anonymous]

Let me help you navigate how message boards work.
People post items. Then other people (or trolls) comment. Then people respond to items.

The quote you referred to, was in response to a response. If you see my original post, it hardly seems like someone who would have worked there or has done anything illegal:

"While you are mired in the muck that is the morally bankrupt executives at Insys, you should consider following up with the equally bankrupt law enforcement officials pursuing them. The egregiously overzealous scare tactics being employed against the innocent or unknowing underlings for plea deals is as disgusting as the overall business plan at Insys. EVERYONE on The Street knew most of the sales reps were hired BECAUSE they had no experience (as much as for what they looked like).

The stories of people's ruined lives from being addicted to painkillers for profits is beyond sad. But our government pretending they care and bulldozing people to get "cooperation" deals in order to score cheap political points is equally as nauseating."

So, no, I am not worried about going to jail (for this). But, trust me, if the government wants to ruin they can whether you did something wrong or not. Of course, it's nothing to worry about if you have a few million for lawyers. And, in reality, this is a lot scarier than some drug reps flirting with doctors or paying them for "speaker programs" to get them to use one drug over another - a business model which has MANY varying shades of grey and is employed at some level everywhere.