Lake Forest Drugmaker Asks States To Return Drugs Used for Capital Punishment

Akorn, a Lake Forest-based drugmaker, has sent a letter to the attorney general’s office in various states seeking they return any of the company’s products that could be used for lethal injections.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times and other sources, the letter appeared to only be sent to states with the death penalty, including Alabama, Florida, Ohio, Oregon and Texas. But some of those states don’t use midazolam and hydromorphone, the drugs in question. Arizona and Ohio are the only states to have used the drugs in executions and have since dropped them following problematic executions. Ohio also responded it didn’t get either drug from Akorn.

READ MORE: Akorn Won’t Allow Any Of Its Products To Be Used for Executions

In the letter sent March 4, Akorn indicated it strongly objects to the use of its products in capital punishment and that using them for lethal injections violates federal drug laws.

“Additionally, such use is contrary to Akorn’s commitment to promote the health and wellness of human patients,” according to the letter from general counsel Joseph Bonaccorsi.

READ MORE: Akorn Appoints 4 To Executive Positions

States that confirmed receiving the letter were Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Tennessee, Utah and Washington.

more via the Chicago Sun-Times