The Supreme Court wrestles with OxyContin maker's bankruptcy deal, with billions of dollars at stake
The Supreme Court is wrestling with a nationwide settlement with OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma that would shield members of the Sackler family who own the company from civil lawsuits over the toll of opioids.
Supreme Court blocks, for now, OxyContin maker bankruptcy deal that would shield Sacklers
The Supreme Court has temporarily blocked a nationwide settlement with OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma that would shield members of the Sackler family who own the company from civil lawsuits over the toll of opioids.
Nevada announces $45M settlement with McKinsey over opioids
The western state reached the deal after sitting out a multi-state settlement with McKinsey announced in February. The hard bargaining has allowed Nevada to win a settlement that's three and a half times larger than the average settlement with other states. The western state reached the deal after sitting out a multi-state settlement with McKinsey announced in February. The hard bargaining has allowed Nevada to win a settlement that’s three and a half times larger than the average settlement with other states. “Nevada needed and deserved more than what was being made available to us in the multi-state settlement,” state Attorney General Aaron Ford said Monday.
Advocates, some AGs wary of Purdue Pharma bankruptcy plan
A group of nearly half the state attorneys general said it was disappointed in the plan Purdue filed late Monday night in federal bankruptcy court and some said they would seek changes. Members of the Sackler family who own Purdue would contribute about $4.3 billion. AdCynthia Munger, of Wayne, Pennsylvania, said Purdue's plan is too focused on providing legal protections for members of the Sackler family. On a Facebook Live video Tuesday, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, a Democrat, said the payment from Sackler family members was too little. AdIn recent letters to a congressional committee, Sackler family members said those who previously served on Purdue's board of directors had combined net assets of $1.1 billion.
McKinsey agrees to pay nearly $600M over opioid crisis
The global business consulting firm McKinsey & Company has agreed to a $573 million settlement over its role in the opioid crisis, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. (AP Photo/Toby Talbot, File)The global consulting firm McKinsey & Company agreed to pay nearly $600 million for its role in advising businesses on how to sell more prescription opioid painkillers amid a nationwide overdose crisis. Washington's attorney general announced a separate $13.5 million deal and West Virginia announced a $10 million settlement with the New York-based company. On a video call with journalists Thursday, North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein said that McKinsey worked for Purdue for 15 years. AdIn a statement, New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said that McKinsey would pay out more than it made advising companies on opioid sales.
AP Source: McKinsey to pay $573M for role in opioid crisis
The global business consulting firm McKinsey & Company has agreed to a $573 million settlement over its role in the opioid crisis, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. Without naming McKinsey, the attorneys general in at least North Carolina and West Virginia have scheduled announcements for Thursday morning regarding the opioid crisis. Purdue agreed to pay $225 million to the U.S. government. Members of the Sackler family who own the company agreed to pay the same amount in a separate settlement announced the same day. The company and family members reached separate agreements with U.S. Justice Department, both announced Oct. 21, 2020.
Family members who own Purdue to appear before Congress
Two members of the Sackler family who own OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma agreed to appear this week before a congressional committee investigating the family and the company's role in the national opioid addiction and overdose epidemic. The committee scheduled and then canceled a hearing earlier this month after family members would not commit to appearing. Under the deal, family members would also pay at least $3 billion in cash over time. Most Democratic state attorneys general oppose the settlement, saying they want more accountability for Sackler family members. The agreement did not result in criminal claims against Sackler family members, but left open the possibility that some could be brought.
OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma pleads guilty in criminal case
The guilty pleas were entered by Purdue board chairperson Steve Miller on behalf of the company. They were part of a criminal and civil settlement announced last month between the Stamford, Connecticut-based company and the Justice Department. No criminal charges have been filed against family members, although their deal leaves open the possibility of that in the future. The attorneys general for about half the states opposed the federal settlement, as well as the company’s proposed settlement in bankruptcy court. In the bankruptcy case, Purdue has proposed transforming into a public benefit corporation with its proceeds going to help address the opioid crisis.
OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma to plead to 3 criminal charges
The Justice Department says on Wednesday, Purdue Pharma, the company that makes OxyContin, will plead guilty to three federal criminal charges as part of a settlement of more than $8 billion. The deal does not release any of the company’s executives or owners — members of the wealthy Sackler family — from criminal liability, and a criminal investigation is ongoing. Family members said they acted “ethically and lawfully,” but some state attorneys general said the agreement fails to hold the Sacklers accountable. No members of the Sackler family remain on that board, though they still own the company. Until recently, the Sackler name was on museum galleries and educational programs around the world because of gifts from family members.
Experts: Revamped OxyContin hasn't curbed abuse, overdoses
In a series of non-binding votes, the FDA experts said that the updated OxyContin appeared to cut down abuse via snorting and injecting, compared to the original drug. But panelists overwhelmingly ruled that data from Purdue and other researchers did not show that the reformulation curbed abuse overall or led to fewer overdoses. Panelists said the shortcomings were due, in part, to the challenges of studying overdoses, which often involve multiple drugs. Purdue’s 2010 revamped OxyContin was the first of several opioids developed by drugmakers to help curb abuse. Purdue said in a statement following the meeting it would continue to work with the FDA as it reviewed the OxyContin studies.
Purdue Pharma began cutting opioid sales force last year
Purdue Pharma continues to manufacture OxyContin, Joe Rice, co-lead counsel for the plaintiffs in the multi-district ligitation, said. CNN has reached out to representatives at Purdue for additional information regarding the manufacturing of OxyContin. But during the hearing earlier Tuesday, lead corporate and restructuring counsel to Purdue Pharma Marshall Huebner said "all promoting of OxyContin and other opioid medications to prescribers to Purdue ceased no later than 20 months ago, in February 2018." "At that time, Purdue began the process of eliminating its opioid medications sales force," Huebner said. No member of the Sackler family -- the billionaire family that owns the company -- is currently on Purdue Pharma's board or is currently employed by the company, Huebner reiterated Tuesday.
Here's what we know about Purdue Pharma's bankruptcy filing
Here is what we know about the bankruptcy filing. What is the effect of the bankruptcy filing? The bankruptcy filing begins the process of settling the multi-district litigation brought by more than 2,000 counties and municipalities and Native American governments. Purdue Pharma reached a preliminary proposed settlement last week, officials from the Plaintiff's Executive Committee (PEC) said. Paul Hanley Jr., co-lead counsel for the multi-district litigation against opioid manufacturers, said the bankruptcy filing was a step in the right direction.
Purdue Pharma files for bankruptcy
Copyright 2019 CNNNEW YORK - Purdue Pharma filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in New York Sunday as part of its framework for settling litigation with multiple states and governments. The Sackler family, which owns the company, had been in talks for weeks to settle cases brought by more than 2,000 states, counties, municipalities and Native American governments against Purdue Pharma and other opioid companies. The proposed settlement has not received unanimous support, with many attorneys general opposing it and vowing to continue fighting the company. Last week, New York Attorney General Letitia James announced that authorities had discovered that the Sackler family had wired about $1 billion between the owners of Purdue Pharma, the entities they control and different financial institutions. Sackler, a former Purdue board member were discovered.