In recent years, the US Department of Justice has launched a criminal investigation into McKinsey consulting firm for its past advising of some of the largest opioid manufacturers in the nation. The investigation centers around suspicions that the firm helped increase sales for these manufacturers by providing consulting services.
Federal prosecutors are looking into whether McKinsey or its employees obstructed legal proceedings related to its consulting services to opioid manufacturers. A grand jury has been empaneled in Virginia as part of the federal investigation, which is being conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Western District of Virginia and the District of Massachusetts.
McKinsey has declined to comment on the investigation, but it is worth noting that in 2019, the company stopped working with opioid-specific businesses and has stated that its work for Purdue was aimed at supporting legal opioid use. However, this does not absolve McKinsey from any wrongdoing or accountability for its role in advising pharmaceutical companies on increasing opioid sales.
In fact, McKinsey’s recommendations to Purdue included strategies to increase OxyContin sales, such as targeting high-volume prescribers and reducing time spent on low-volume prescribers. These actions have had far-reaching impacts on public health and the legal landscape surrounding opioids in the country.
The consequences of McKinsey’s actions have been significant, with mass lawsuits filed against pharmaceutical companies like Purdue, Endo International, and Mallinckrodt for allegedly fueling addiction through deceptive marketing practices. The settlement reached by McKinsey with all 50 states in 2019 also came under scrutiny as it did not admit any wrongdoing for its role in exacerbating opioid addiction.
Overall, McKinsey’s role in advising pharmaceutical companies on increasing opioid sales is under scrutiny as part of a larger investigation into the opioid crisis in the United States. The consequences of their actions have had far-reaching impacts on public health and the legal landscape surrounding opioids in this country. It remains to be seen what justice will be served for those who suffered from addiction due to deceptive marketing practices by these companies and their consultants like McKinsey.