Top consulting firm hid opioid conflicts of interest from the FDA, says Congressional report

McKinsey & Company, the world’s largest management consulting firm, worked for the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) while failing to disclose that it was also advising opioid makers, a congressional investigation has found.1 McKinsey’s work included advising Purdue Pharma, the company often blamed for triggering the US opioid epidemic, on how to avoid tougher regulations.

“McKinsey staffed at least 22 consultants at both the FDA and opioid manufacturers on related topics, including at the same time,” said Representative Carolyn Maloney, chairwoman of the powerful Committee on Oversight and Reform. “Behind the scenes McKinsey consultants leveraged their federal connections to secure even more private sector business and tried to influence key public health officials on behalf of clients like Purdue Pharma.”

The revelations come from internal documents made available by the consultancy firm as part of a $600m legal settlement agreed last year with the attorneys general of 47 states.2

At least 37 McKinsey …