NPR - Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family, who own the company, have reached a $7.4 billion settlement with all 50 states and U.S. territories over the company's improper marketing of opioids. If the settlement is approved, it would end a long legal battle over the harm caused by OxyContin, the company's opioid painkiller. Legal documents revealed that under the Sackler family's leadership, Purdue Pharma convinced regulators and the health care industry that OxyContin could be used more liberally without a big risk of addiction or overdose, which turned out not to be true. Purdue Pharma has since pleaded guilty twice to federal crimes for false marketing. Millions of people in the U.S. have died from opioid overdoses, including from OxyContin.
NPR's addiction correspondent Brian Mann says the new deal includes one big change: people who believe they were harmed by OxyContin will no longer be forced to drop civil lawsuits against the Sackler family. The last attempt at a settlement was overturned by the Supreme Court because it included broad legal protection for the Sacklers. Under this new deal, the family is expected to pay $6.5 billion from their personal fortunes and give up ownership of the company. Activists tell Mann they hope the money will be spent on health care and helping more people in addiction get better treatment, but there is concern it could be redirected to prop up existing programs.
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