Nebraska's thiopental for lethal injection

Nebraska has refused to turn over its stock of thiopental for lethal injection to the FDA. The FDA was following a court order issued by US District Judge Richard Leon. The source of Nebraska's thiopental is dubious at best. (My bold added to my earlier post.)

Purchases from India: In 2010 and 2011 various US states inquired about and some purchased thiopental from India.  The Sunday Guardian reports that Navneet Verma, managing director of Kayem Pharmaceuticals, bought vials of thiopental with English labels from Mumbai company Neon Laboratories for sale to Nebraska and South Dakota because his existing stock was labeled in Portuguese for use in Angola. The Times of India reports that Kayem consists of a Mumbai office and storeroom, with a kitchen on a balcony. This seems very similar to the questionable situation with Dream Pharma. Later in 2011, Mr. Verma reversed his decision to sell more thiopental to various US states that had sent him inquiries.

Another Indian company, Naari, was duped by an Indian purchaser, Chris Harris, who stated that he was buying samples to ship to Zambia for approval and importation to that country. Instead, the drugs were sent to Nebraska, and Naari has protested to the Chief Justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court and started legal proceedings for their return. The Indian Express reported other details of this story.

Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning has urged the FDA to appeal Judge Leon's decision, and further litigation is assured in order to determine the administrative discretion of the FDA and to delineate the roles that the FDA and DEA will play in issuing import licenses.