USA – Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family, who controlled the company, have reached a settlement agreement worth up to US $7.4 billion (£6 billion) to resolve claims related to their prescription painkiller, OxyContin.
This deal, which surpasses a previous US $1 billion offer rejected by the US Supreme Court in 2024, includes a commitment of up to US $6.5 billion from the Sacklers and US $900 million from Purdue.
OxyContin has been widely blamed for fueling the opioid crisis in the United States, acting as a gateway to stronger drugs like heroin, and generating billions for the Sackler family.
The New York Attorney General’s office stated that the funds from the settlement will be directed toward opioid addiction treatment and prevention efforts across the country.
Purdue expressed satisfaction with the agreement, stating in a statement, “We are extremely pleased that a new agreement has been reached that will deliver billions of dollars to compensate victims, abate the opioid crisis, and deliver treatment and overdose rescue medicines that will save lives.”
However, the deal still requires court approval, and certain details are yet to be finalized. This settlement is among the largest to arise from lawsuits filed by local, state, and tribal governments, as well as other parties seeking accountability for the opioid epidemic.
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong commented that while the settlement represents a significant step, “It’s not just about the money. There is not enough money in the world to make it right.”
The previous proposal, rejected in 2024, had granted the Sacklers immunity from future lawsuits in exchange for a US $6 billion payment, a provision that was a point of contention.
Purdue became notorious for promoting OxyContin as a safe painkiller, despite knowing its highly addictive nature. The opioid crisis has claimed tens of thousands of lives since the drug’s introduction in 1999.
Legal filings suggest the Sackler family was aware of the risks associated with the drug and extracted around US $11 billion from the company prior to its bankruptcy, hiding much of the money overseas and making it harder to recover.
While the deal may bring some closure to victims, including those like Kara Trainor, who spent years recovering from an addiction triggered by the drug, she remarked, “Everything in my life is shaped by a company that put profits over human lives.“