BITTER PILL

Opioid Maker Purdue Pharma Considering Bankruptcy in Face of OxyContin Lawsuits

Could avoid paying out hefty settlements in lawsuits accusing it of the deceptive marketing of the painkiller.

Craig Landau, CEO of embattled Purdue Pharma, told The Washington Post the company is considering filing for bankruptcy protection after a string of lawsuits claim it is responsible for the nation’s opioid-addiction epidemic. “We are considering it, but we’ve really made no decisions on what course of actions to pursue,” Landau told the paper. “A lot depends on what unfolds in the weeks and months ahead.” Purdue is the maker of the painkiller OxyContin, which has been blamed for tens of thousands of addiction-related deaths in recent years. The lawsuits claim Purdue was involved in “aggressively and deceptively marketing” the addictive drug. A trial set to begin in Oklahoma on May 28 is aimed at holding Purdue and other opioid makers responsible for the deadly crisis. Plaintiffs are seeking damages of more than $1 billion from Purdue and others named in the case. If Purdue files for bankruptcy, it could avoid paying heavy settlements.

MISUNDERSTOOD

Ex-Opioid Addict at Harvard Says We’re Wrong About Addiction

Kathy Jean Schultz