U.S. eases suspension of drug company run by former Ann Arbor school board member

The federal government is backing off and allowing a Livonia-based drug wholesaler to distribute some prescription painkillers.

The Harvard Drug Group, which is co-owned by former Ann Arbor school board member Randy Friedman, says it's still banned from distributing oxycodone but can sell less-potent painkillers such as hydrocodone.

The Drug Enforcement Administration announced a broad suspension last week and said Harvard Drug should have known that some customers in Florida were trafficking in painkillers. The drug company supplies doctors and pharmacies.

The Harvard Drug Group had turned to federal court in Detroit on Wednesday, a day after the DEA announced the suspension.

DEA spokesman Rich Isaacson declined to specifically say why the government changed its position Friday. He says the changes still will keep the public safe.

Friedman praised the DEA. “Protecting the public against pharmaceutical abuse is a difficult job requiring tenacity and determination by all involved, particularly the regulatory agency. We are all aware that criminals are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their methods to illegally divert and abuse drugs. At Harvard Drug, we are doing everything in our power to help stop them," he said in a press release.

Harvard Drug says it notifies the DEA about suspicious orders and has cut off customers it doesn't trust.