Purdue Pharma

About Purdue Pharma

Purdue Pharma, maker of OxyContin, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September 2019. Purdue had generated over 35 billion from OxyContin since its introduction in 1996. The Sackler family, which owned Purdue, took approximately 10 billion in profits. The bankruptcy aimed to resolve thousands of opioid lawsuits. A settlement was reached in 2021 for 4.3 billion, with the Sackler family contributing 4.3 billion. The settlement was controversial because it gave the Sacklers permanent immunity from civil liability. The Supreme Court struck down the immunity provision in 2024 in Harrington v Purdue Pharma. The ruling jeopardized the entire settlement. The case illustrates the tension between resolving mass tort claims efficiently through bankruptcy and holding wrongdoers accountable.