What Happened: Purdue Pharma developed and aggressively marketed OxyContin starting in the 1990s via medical sales reps whose job was to convince doctors to prescribe more of their drug. Inappropriate prescribing of opioids was given as one of the major causes of U.S. overdoses, according to the office of Dept. of Health and Human Services.

Numerous U.S. states have sued Purdue Pharma for its aggressive marketing and for downplaying OxyContin’s addictiveness. Purdue essentially responded by declaring bankruptcy in 2019.

Under the new terms, per Tong's press release, Purdue Pharma will cease to operate under Sackler control. Over the next 15 years, $7.4 billion will be distributed to communities across the U.S. for opioid addiction treatment, prevention and recovery initiatives. Notably, the Sackler family will no longer be shielded from future lawsuits, a demand they previously insisted upon in earlier agreements.

Relentless Pursuit Of Profit

“Families throughout New York and across the nation are suffering from the immense pain and loss wrought by the opioid crisis,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James, whose office helped negotiate the settlement agreement, reported ABC News.

“The Sackler family relentlessly pursued profit at the expense of vulnerable patients, and played a critical role in starting and fueling in the opioid epidemic,” she continued. “While no amount of money will ever fully repair the damage they caused, this massive influx of funds will bring resources to communities in need so that we can heal.”

A board of trustees will oversee Purdue’s future operations, ensuring it remains barred from opioid marketing or lobbying, noted Tong.

Purdue Pharma expressed satisfaction with the new settlement, in a statement to ABC News. The company said it will provide resources to combat the opioid epidemic and save lives.

Now Read:

• Pharmacy Benefit Managers Played Key Role in Worsening Opioid Crisis, Drug Makers Paid Staggering Rebates To Middlemen: NYT

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