Posted: March 13, 2015
On March 4, Akorn Pharmaceuticals,
a manufacturer of two drugs (midazolam and pentobarbital) that have
been used in executions, released a statement announcing measures to
block the sale of its products to prisons. Akorn joins at least two
other U.S.-based drug companies and several European companies in expressing opposition
to the use of their products in lethal injections. In 2014, Par
Pharmaceuticals responded to Indiana's proposed use of one of their
anesthetics by prohibiting the sale of the drug to prisons. Stephen
Mock, a spokesman for Par, said, “It’s not because we take public policy
positions on issues like capital punishment. We’re a pharmaceutical
company, and we have a mission statement. Par’s mission is to help
improve the quality of life. Indiana’s proposed use of our product is
contrary to our mission.” Akorn's statement announcing their new
restrictions said, “The employees of Akorn are committed to furthering
human health and wellness. In the interest of promoting these values,
Akorn strongly objects to the use of its products to conduct or support
capital punishment through lethal injection or other means.”
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