Drugs giant Pfizer has taken steps to prevent its products from being used in lethal injections.
The move by the US company shuts off the last remaining market source for drugs used in executions, following similar actions by more than 20 other drugmakers, according to the New York Times.
ITV News correspondent Neil Connery reports:
"We are enforcing a distribution restriction for specific products that have been part of, or considered by some states for, their lethal injection protocols," Pfizer said on its website.
"Pfizer strongly objects to the use of its products as lethal injections for capital punishment."
The list of products Pfizer is restricting includes the powerful anesthetic propofol, the drug that caused the death of pop superstar Michael Jackson.
The others blocked from use in executions are pancuronium bromide, potassium chloride, idazolam, hydromorphone, rocuronium bromide and vecuronium bromide.
Pfizer's distribution restriction limits the sale of these seven products to a select group of wholesalers, distributors and direct purchasers under the condition that they will not resell these products to correctional institutions for use in lethal injections, the company said.
Pfizer said it offers the products because they save or improve lives, and markets them solely for use as indicated in the product labeling.
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