In a landmark case of regulatory capture, Dr. Curtis Wright IV, leading the FDA's Division of Anesthetic, Critical Care, and Addiction Drug Products, approved OxyContin with controversial language that misrepresented the drug's addictive potential. Wright held private meetings with Purdue Pharma representatives in January 1995, allowing the company to draft portions of his medical review.
Key Findings:
Wright approved a label claiming delayed absorption reduces drug abuse liability
No scientific evidence supported this claim
Wright left FDA in October 1997
Joined Purdue Pharma in December 1998 with a salary triple his previous government payImplications:
Systematic manipulation of drug approval process
Fundamental breakdown of regulatory oversight
Contributed to nationwide opioid crisis
Resulted in nearly 645,000 overdose deaths from 1999-2021