The Latest: Massachusetts settles with fentanyl company

The Latest on lawsuits against Insys Therapeutics Inc. (all times local):

2:20 p.m.

Massachusetts has announced a $500,000 settlement with a Phoenix-based drug company it says schemed to push sales of a powerful painkiller spray.

Attorney General Maura Healey announced the settlement Thursday against Insys Therapeutics Inc.

Healey says the company marketed the product for a variety of pain patients even though it's only approved for use in cancer patients.

The settlement comes on the same day that New Jersey joined other states suing the company. New Jersey Attorney General Christopher Porrino said that "the conduct alleged in our lawsuit is nothing short of evil."

The company has previously said that the marketing of Subsys was appropriate. A spokesman didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Arizona sued Insys in August, and Illinois reached a $4.5 million settlement with the company.

___

1 p.m.

New Jersey has joined with other states in suing an Arizona drug company behind a powerful opioid-fentanyl painkiller spray.

The suit alleges that Insys directed its sales force to have doctors prescribe Subsys for any type of chronic pain even though it was only approved for cancer patients who couldn't benefit from other opioids.

Attorney General Christopher Porrino said that "the conduct alleged in our lawsuit is nothing short of evil."

The company has previously said that the marketing of Subsys was appropriate.

The suit seeking financial damages says that Insys created false records to get insurers in the state to pay for prescriptions for people who didn't need it.

Arizona sued the company in August, and Illinois reached a $4.5 million settlement with the company.