Publicis Health Facing Lawsuit Over Role in Marketing OxyContin

Massachusetts accuses Publicis Groupe’s healthcare division of deceptive practices

Purdue Pharma’s reckoning over the company’s promotion of OxyContin contributing to an opioid epidemic has spread to the company’s marketing partners.

Yesterday, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey filed a lawsuit in Suffolk Superior Court on behalf of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts accusing Publicis Health of deceptive marketing practices for its role in promoting OxyContin to the state’s residents.

In a statement, a Publicis Health spokesperson said the company “proudly support[s] organizations fighting the opioid epidemic in Massachusetts and across the country,” emphasizing that all its work was “completely lawful” and calling the lawsuit “completely without basis.”

“Publicis Health acted solely as an advertising agency. It was not a drug manufacturer, distributor, or consultant,” the statement continued. “Our role was limited to implementing Purdue’s advertising plan and buying media space. We look forward to a court determining there is absolutely no legal basis that supports this lawsuit.”

In the complaint, Healey claims…

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