Purdue Pharma and its owners, the Sackler family, agreed to pay $270 million to settle a lawsuit filed by the State of Oklahoma alleging that the pharmaceutical company contributed to the nationwide opioid crisis.
Oklahoma alleged that Purdue Pharma and other defendants in the case including Johnson & Johnson, Teva Pharmaceutical engaged in deceptive marketing that downplayed the risks and overemphasized the benefits of opiods. As a result, many suffered from opioid addiction and in many cased led to overdose deaths.
Currently, Purdue Pharma and other pharmaceutical companies selling opioid products are facing nearly 2,000 lawsuits. The other defendants in the Oklahoma lawsuit will face trial set for May 28.
Details of the settlement agreement
On Wednesday, Oklahoma State Attorney General announced the settlement agreement with Purdue Pharma.
Under the agreement, the pharmaceutical company will provide $102.5 million in funding to establish the National Center for Addiction Studies at the Oklahoma State University. It will also donate $20 million worth of medicines to support its treatment mission.
