---
title: 'Statements from drug manufacturers and medical professionals'
description: 'STATEMENT FROM WG CRITICALCARE objecting to the use of their products in lethal injection protocol (January 30, 2023) STATEMENT FROM ZYDUS PHARMACEUTICALS…'
canonical: 'https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/executions/methods-of-execution/lethal-injection/statements-from-drug-manufacturers-and-medical-professionals'
section: topics
date: '2018-11-07T18:20:58-05:00'
updated: '2025-03-14T14:52:23-04:00'
source: 'Death Penalty Information Center'
---

- [**STATEMENT FROM WG CRITICALCARE**](https://www.wgcriticalcare.com/statement-on-use-of-medications-for-capital-punishment/) objecting to the use of their products in lethal injection protocol (January 30, 2023)
- [**STATEMENT FROM ZYDUS PHARMACEUTICALS (USA) INC.**](https://zydususa.com/faq/) noting their neutral stance on capital punishment, but stating their objection to the use of their products in lethal injection procedures (April 2021)
- [**STATEMENT FROM XGEN PHARMACEUTICALS DJB**](https://xgenpharmadjb.com/anti-capital-punishment-statement/) objecting to the use of their products in capital punishment (August 2020)
- [**STATEMENT FROM DYNALABS**](https://dynalabs.us/company/announcements/testing-pentobarbital/) regarding their policy on testing drugs intended for lethal injection (July 2020)
- [**STATEMENT FROM HENRY SCHEIN**](https://www.henryschein.com/us-en/specialmarkets/legalterms.aspx) noting their refusal to sell drugs to prison/correctional institutions for the purposes of human lethal injection (April 2020)
- [**STATEMENT FROM TEVA PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES**](https://www.tevapharm.com/globalassets/tevapharm-vision-files/teva-lethal-injections-statement_2020.pdf) strongly opposing their use of their products for lethal injection in capital punishment (2020)
- [**STATEMENT FROM SOMERSET PHARMA, LLC**](https://somersetpharma.com/about/anti-capital-punishment/) objecting to the use of their products in capital punishment execution procedures (2020)
- [**STATEMENT FROM AMERICAN REGENT**](https://americanregent.com/media/2710/americanregent-sales-policy_11oct2019.pdf) objecting to the use of their products for lethal injection (August 2018)
- [**STATEMENT FROM ALVOGEN**](https://reprieve.org/us/2018/07/10/pharma-corporation-sues-block-nevada-execution/) noting they are no longer directly selling their products to prisons or departments of correction(s) in efforts to avoid their use in execution protocols (June 2018)

- [**STATEMENT FROM ATHENEX**](http://www.athenex.com/2017/11/08/athenex-anti-capital-punishment-statement/), producer of midazolam obtained by the state of Arkansas, opposing the use of any of its products in capital punishment (Nov. 8, 2017)
- [**STATEMENT FROM JANSSEN, A DIVISION OF JOHNSON & JOHNSON**](https://cdn.craft.cloud/c08a8cf8-1de1-4da0-8525-321ca2c16992/assets/legacy/2017.08.21_JansenStatement_LethalInjection.pdf), which created the drug etomidate, but no longer manufacters it, speaking out against use of its medicines in lethal injections for capital punishment (Aug. 21, 2017)

- [**STATEMENT FROM AUROMEDICS PHARMA LLC**](https://eugiaus.com/policies/anti-capital-punishment-policy/) noting they have put distribution controls in place to ensure their products are not used in lethal injections (July 2017)
- [**STATEMENT FROM BAXTER INTERNATIONAL**](https://www.baxter.com/policies-positions/use-products-capital-punishment) expressing their longstanding objection to the use of their products in capital punishment (May 2017)
- [**STATEMENT FROM ABBVIE INC.**](https://www.abbvie.com/content/dam/abbvie-com2/pdfs/about/statement-of-opposition-to-capital-punishment.pdf) objecting to the use of their products in lethal injection protocol for capital punishment (November 2017)

- [**American Nurses Association Position Statement on Capital Punishment and Nurses’ Participation in Capital Punishment**](https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/nursing-excellence/official-position-statements/id/capital-punishment-and-nurse-participation-in-capital-punishment/) (Dec. 2016); [**American Nurses Association Position on Nurse Participation in Executions**](https://cdn.craft.cloud/c08a8cf8-1de1-4da0-8525-321ca2c16992/assets/legacy/NursePartic.pdf) (Jan. 28, 2010)
- [**STATEMENT FROM PFIZER**](https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/pfizer-announces-restrictions-to-keep-states-from-using-its-medicines-in-executions) opposing the use of its products in executions (May 13, 2016) ([updated ](https://www.pfizer.com/sites/default/files/b2b/Global_Policy_Paper_Lethal_Injection_Sept_2017.pdf)Feb. 2, 2017)
- [**STATEMENT FROM THE AMERICAN PHARMACISTS ASSOCIATION**](https://cdn.craft.cloud/c08a8cf8-1de1-4da0-8525-321ca2c16992/assets/legacy/APhAResolution.pdf) discouraging member participation in executions (March 30, 2015)
- [**STATEMENT FROM THE INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY OF COMPOUNDING PHARMACISTS**](https://cdn.craft.cloud/c08a8cf8-1de1-4da0-8525-321ca2c16992/assets/legacy/IACPPressRelease.pdf), discouraging members from providing drugs for executions (March 24, 2015)
- [**STATEMENT FROM AKORN**](https://cdn.craft.cloud/c08a8cf8-1de1-4da0-8525-321ca2c16992/assets/legacy/AkornStatement.pdf), producer of midazolam and hydromorphone, on opposition to the use of their product in executions (March 4, 2015)
- [**STATEMENT FROM ROCHE**](https://cdn.craft.cloud/c08a8cf8-1de1-4da0-8525-321ca2c16992/assets/legacy/RocheStatement.pdf), producer of midazolam, on opposition to the use of their product in executions (January 16, 2015)
- [**Affidavit from Dr. Kent Dively**](http://www.otse.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/2014-08-12-Dr.-Report.pdf), anesthesiologist, on the execution of Dennis McGuire in Ohio (August 4, 2014)
- [**STATEMENT FROM PAR PHARMACEUTICALS**](http://www.parsterileproducts.com/news/releases/2014/brevital-sodium-statement.php), maker of Brevital, announcing measures to block the use of their drug in executions. (May 28, 2014)
- [**Physicians, Medical Ethics, and Execution by Lethal Injection**](https://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleID=1874217&utm_source=Silverchair%20Information%20Systems&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=JAMA:OnlineFirst05/19/2014), Journal of the American Medical Association, Dr. Robert Truog, I. Glenn Cohen, JD, and Dr. Mark Rockoff (May 19, 2014)
- [**STATEMENT FROM THE CONSTITUTION PROJECT**](https://cdn.craft.cloud/c08a8cf8-1de1-4da0-8525-321ca2c16992/assets/legacy/ConstitutionProjectClaytonLockett.pdf) on the execution of Clayton Lockett, signed by 13 correctional officials calling for a full independent inquiry (April 30, 2014)
- **STATEMENT FROM THE MISSOURI SOCIETY OF ANESTHESIOLOGISTS** on the use of propofol in executions (September 26, 2013).
- [**STATEMENT FROM HIKMA,**](https://cdn.craft.cloud/c08a8cf8-1de1-4da0-8525-321ca2c16992/assets/legacy/HikmaStatement.pdf) maker of phenobarbital, announcing measures to keep their drug from being used in executions. (May 15, 2013).
- [**STATEMENT FROM FRESENIUS KABI,**](https://cdn.craft.cloud/c08a8cf8-1de1-4da0-8525-321ca2c16992/assets/legacy/FreseniusPropofolStatement.pdf) maker of propofol, announcing measures to keep their drug from being used in executions. Read the [full article from the Associated Press](/stories/maker-of-anesthetic-blamed-for-michael-jacksons-death-latest-to-block-drug-for-execution-use) (September 28, 2012).
- [**STATEMENT FROM 25 PROMINENT EUROPEAN DOCTORS**](https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2812%2960013-0/fulltext) in an open letter to Hospira's President Michael Ball, asking him to restrict distribution of pancuronium bromide, a muscle relaxant that is used as the 2nd drug in many lethal injections. (Jan. 7, 2012).
- **TRANSFER OF PENTOBARBITAL MANUFACTURE FROM DENMARK TO U.S.:** Akorn, Inc., a pharmaceutical company based in Lake Forest, Illinois, has acquired manufacturing rights for pentobarbital from Lundbeck, Inc. [According to the Associated Press](https://www.dddmag.com/news/2012/01/lundbeck-sells-pentobarbital-rights), the "distribution system meant to keep the drug out of the hands of prisons will remain in place." (A. Welsh-Huggins, "Lundbeck Sells Pentobarbital Rights," Associated Press, December 21, 2011)
- [**STATEMENT FROM LUNDBECK, INC.,**](https://cdn.craft.cloud/c08a8cf8-1de1-4da0-8525-321ca2c16992/assets/legacy/LundbeckPR070111.pdf) maker of pentobarbital, on distribution restrictions to prevent use in executions (July 1, 2011)
- [**Open letter from over 60 doctors**](https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(11)60823-4/fulltext) to the CEO of Lundbeck Pharmaceuticals, calling for actions to prevent the use of pentobarbital in executions (The Lancet, June 9, 2011)
- [**STATEMENT FROM LUNDBECK, INC.**](https://cdn.craft.cloud/c08a8cf8-1de1-4da0-8525-321ca2c16992/assets/legacy/LundbeckLethInj.pdf), maker of pentobarbital, on the use of their drugs for executions. (Jan. 26, 2011)
- [**STATEMENT FROM HOSPIRA**](https://cdn.craft.cloud/c08a8cf8-1de1-4da0-8525-321ca2c16992/assets/legacy/HospiraJan2011.pdf)**,** sole U.S. manufacturer of thiopental sodium, on their ending of their production of this drug. (Jan. 21, 2011)
- [**American Board of Anesthesiology Forbidding Participation by Members in Executions**](https://cdn.craft.cloud/c08a8cf8-1de1-4da0-8525-321ca2c16992/assets/legacy/CapitalPunishmentCommentary.pdf) (April 2, 2010)
- [**STATEMENT FROM HOSPIRA**](https://cdn.craft.cloud/c08a8cf8-1de1-4da0-8525-321ca2c16992/assets/legacy/Hospira%27s%20letter%20saying%20doesn%27t%20want%20its_chemicals%20used%20for%20executions.pdf), sole U.S. manufacturer of thiopental sodium, on the use of their drugs for executions. (Mar. 31, 2010)
- [**Other Statements from medical organizations**](https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/stories/lethal-injection-medical-statements)