The company has been widely blamed for fueling the nation’s opioid epidemic.
October 21, 2020, 2:06 PM
• 2 min read
Share to FacebookShare to TwitterEmail this articleThe Justice Department is expected to announce on Wednesday a settlement of civil and criminal charges against Purdue Pharma, the OxyContin maker widely blamed for fueling the nation’s opioid epidemic.
Terms of the settlement were not immediately clear but likely involves billions of dollars in fines that Purdue will be unable to immediately pay while the company is in the middle of bankruptcy proceedings.
A spokeswoman for Purdue Pharma declined to comment but the company had signaled its intention to reach a settlement when it filed for bankruptcy protection a year ago.
The Purdue Pharma logo at its offices in Stamford, Conn., May 8, 2007. Purdue Pharma makes OxyContin, the powerful prescription painkiller that experts say helped touch off an opioid epidemic.
The Purdue Pharma logo at its offices in Stamford, Conn., May 8, 2007. Purdue Pharma makes OxyContin, the powerful prescription painkiller that experts say helped touch off an opioid epidemic.The announcement is expected during an 11 a.m. news conference on Wednesday.
Purdue has also been accused of paying kickbacks to prescribers and specialty pharmacies and paying visits to doctors known to write medically unnecessary prescriptions.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
