Politics & Government

Massachusetts Ban on Zohydro Thrown Out

U.S. District judge says executive order issued by Gov. Deval Patrick was unconstitutional.

A judge has thrown out a ban on the drug Zohydro issued by Gov. Deval Patrick, D-MA, last month, according to WCVB-TV.

The new opioid-based painkiller, which offers the only extended release capsule form of hydrocodone bitartrate on the market currently, has public health officials fearing that the already epidemic opiate addition will only get worse.

However, the preliminary injunction issued by Judge Rya Zobel, said that the state “overstepped its authority” in issuing the ban. The maker of the drug, Zogenix, asked for the injunction, noting that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had already approved the drug.

Find out what's happening in Westfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Other efforts are under way to ban the drug, including in Kentucky, West Virginia, and Vermont. Officials in New Hampshire held a state Senate hearing earlier today to discuss possibly putting an 18-month moratorium on the sale of Zhoydro in the Granite State.

Read the full report on WCVB.com.

Find out what's happening in Westfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Westford