Several U.S. senators are questioning the Food and Drug Administration's work with a consulting firm that helped businesses sell prescription painkillers during the nation's overdose crisis.
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Democrat Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire and Republican Chuck Grassley of Iowa, among others, have asked the FDA about potential conflicts of interest from its work with McKinsey & Company.
A letter from the senators notes that the FDA paid McKinsey more than $140 million after hiring it several times starting in 2008.
The consultant also worked with opioid painkiller makers like Purdue Pharma while serving the government.
