Zohydro Maker Sues To Block Massachusetts Ban

Associated Press - The maker of Zohydro, a controversial new prescription painkiller, has filed a lawsuit in federal court seeking to block Massachusetts' ban on local doctors prescribing and dispensing the drug.

Zogenix filed suit in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts on Monday requesting that the court temporarily stop Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick's executive order.

The San Diego-based company says in its lawsuit that Governor Patrick's order is at odds with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which approved use of Zohydro for severe pain in October.

In March, Governor Patrick declared a public health emergency in response to the state's growing epidemic of heroin and opioid addiction. He pushed the ban on Zohydro as officials feared the painkiller could exacerbate the problem.