Purdue Pharma L.P. is a company founded and led by physicians, specializing in the development, manufacturing, and marketing of medications and consumer health products. The Supreme Court is scheduled to consider the legality of Purdue Pharma’s bankruptcy, filed by President Joe Biden’s Administration, on Dec. 4 2023.
In May 2007, Purdue Pharma pled guilty to two counts of conspiracy and one count of criminal resolution. In 2019, Purdue Pharma filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and in 2021, the U.S. The Bankruptcy Court approved their filing. With bankruptcy, Purdue Pharma is required to allocate $6 billion toward addressing widespread opioid overdose and settling 2,600 settlements stemming from dozens of states and families affected by overdose. Court justices are deliberating whether a bankruptcy can remove accountability for the thousands of lawsuits against Purdue Pharma.
The opioid overdose epidemic occurred between 1991 and 2021, killing 645,000 people due to doctors giving out too many prescriptions and illicit use. Opioids, derived from the poppy plant, offer pain relief but are highly addictive. Purdue Pharma developed OxyContin, an opiod derivative of oxycodone that has a controlled release schedule and triggers endogenous opioid receptors in the brain that subside stress, pain and anxiety.
Purdue Pharma admitted to selling their opioid medication to physicians across the country, aware that the medication was frequently given to drug abusers. OxyContin received FDA approval in 1995 based on the belief that “the controlled-release formulation of OxyContin would result in less abuse potential.” Curtis Wright, the FDA examiner who approved OxyContin, would leave his position working for the government a year later to work for Purdue Pharma.
Dr. Richard Sackler is the central figure in the Purdue Pharma lawsuit and former president of the company. He testified online regarding his involvement in Purdue Pharma and the opioid crisis, saying that he followed Purdue’s sales team in increasing the sales of OxyContin to doctors who commonly prescribed higher doses.
The Sackler family, owners and managers of Purdue Pharma for the past two decades, are at the center of controversy. Purdue Pharma marketed its opioid product, OxyContin, to several physicians across the country without disclosing its addictive effects on users. The Sackler family withdrew billions of dollars from their company before filing for bankruptcy in 2019 and expressed strong regret for OxyContin’s negative impact, but never stated a formal apology.
The Netflix series “Painkiller,” released in August 2023: a fictional story based on Barry Meier’s book about Purdue Pharma, “Painkiller: An Empire Of Deceit And The Origin Of America’s Opioid Epidemic.” The series follows the history of Purdue Pharma, the Sackler family and the FBI investigation that led to their downfall. Purdue Pharma’s $10-12 billion lawsuit is the largest financial pharmaceutical lawsuit in American history. The Purdue Pharma lawsuit hearing holds great importance for holding accountability over the Slacker family and the endangering opioid crisis in the United States.
