ASSEMBLYWOMAN JONES CALLS FOR INVESTIGATION OF MASSIVE TAX BREAKS FOR MURPHY SUPPORTED PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY WITH LINKS TO OPIOID EPIDEMIC

Assemblywoman questions massive tax break awarded by Governor’s administration to Teva Pharmaceutical—a company barred from promoting opioids in other states

(TRENTON) – Assemblywoman Patricia Egan Jones called for an investigation into Teva Pharmaceutical today and submitted testimony to Governor Murphy’s Task Force on the New Jersey Economic Development Authority’s Tax Incentive Program.

“It is inconceivable to me that New Jersey and Governor Murphy would give $40 million to a company to relocate to New Jersey where it has been documented that they are colluding and conspiring to sell opioids and other drugs that have killed tens of thousands, including perhaps thousands alone in New Jersey,” said Assemblywoman Jones. “The value of the precious lives lost as a result of the drugs peddled by this company cannot be calculated.”

Teva pharmaceutical paid $85 million to Oklahoma to settle charges arising out of the opioid epidemic in that state, paid a $27 million fine for giving kickbacks to doctors who overprescribe medications to senior citizens, and agreed to pay over a half billion dollar fine to settle apparent foreign corrupt practice charges.

“Today, I am sending a letter to the Attorney General, the Comptroller and the U.S. Attorney asking for an immediate investigation with respect to Teva Pharmaceuticals and its tax credit application”

A copy of Assemblywoman Jones’s submitted testimony to the Governor Murphy’s EDA Task Force and a letter requesting the State Comptroller investigation is attached to this release.