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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.

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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.

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  • 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).

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