Pharma Execs Face Murder Charges

Dec. 19, 2014

The U.S. attorney’s office has charged Barry Cadden, owner of New England Compounding Center and Glenn Chin, head pharmacist, with 25 acts of second-degree murder in seven states in relation to the production of tainted drugs that killed 64 people and sickened hundreds with fungal meningitis in the fall of 2012.

Attorneys claim that the senior execs at the now-closed N.E.C.C. knew of filthy conditions and improper sterility testing.

A total 14 people were charged in a 131-count indictment, many of them N.E.C.C. pharmacists. The charges include mail fraud, conspiracy, racketeering and violation of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Only Cadden and Chin were charged with murder.

Both men plead not guilty in federal court on Wednesday.

Read the NY Times piece