OxyContin-maker Purdue Pharma is exploring bankruptcy protection amid accusations of igniting a nationwide opioid crisis by ruthlessly marketing and misleading doctors and patients about the dangers of the highly addictive narcotic.
div > div.group > p:first-child”>
Purdue, founded in the 1950s by brothers Arthur, Mortimer and Raymond Sackler, is looking at filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to protect its assets against thousands of lawsuits for its role in the opioid epidemic, according to a Reuters report.
A bankruptcy filing is not certain, Reuters reported, citing anonymous sources. Purdue Pharma has not made any final decisions and could instead continue fighting the lawsuits, Reuters said.
“As a privately-held company, it has been Purdue Pharma’s longstanding policy not to comment on our financial or legal strategy,” Purdue said in a statement. “We are, however, committed to ensuring that our business remains strong and sustainable. We have ample liquidity and remain committed to meeting our obligations to the patients who benefit from our medicines, our suppliers and other business partners.”
Purdue, which has been the targeted of several lawsuits, and other manufacturers faces a trial in May filed by Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter. Accusations against the Stamford, Connecticut-based company include downplaying the addiction risk while overstating the benefits of opioids.
They’ve also been accused of urging sales representatives advise doctors to prescribe the highest dosage its painkiller because it was more profitable.
The company has denied any wrongdoing. They say labels for its painkiller carried warnings about the risk of abuse and misuse associated with the drugs.
OxyContin is a prescription drug used to treat moderate to server pain in adults. From 1999 to 2017, nearly 218,000 people have died in the United States from overdoses related to prescription opioids, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. OxyContin first came on the market in 1996.
In late 2017, Purdue launched an advertising campaign meant to show it is doing its part to stem the epidemic. The ads, which appeared in several national and public newspapers, emphasized that the company is a “research-driven, science-based” entity and dedicated to discovering safer new pain medications.
CNBC.com
