Bill Crossman is an unlikely candidate to run a pharmaceutical firm.
The 71-year-old Connecticut businessman had spent decades growing a diverse collection of companies making everything from elevators to eco-friendly products. He had never run a drug company — and had little to no experience in the industry.
But Crossman’s long-lasting struggle to help his stepson overcome an opioid use disorder drove him to search for answers. A scientist who started Phoenix Pharma Labs, a tiny private drug company, introduced Crossman to an opioid he believed could someday treat pain well without increasing risk of addiction.
Hopefully the claims he makes turn out to be true in humans. If it does reach market physicians would likely still provide abusive drugs – look at the slow up take of abuse deterrent opioids (just get the non deterrent generic instead).