Over $650M Paid in OxyContin Settlements

May 2007

OxyContin manufacturer Purdue Pharma and the company’s top executives have agreed to pay settlement fees in excess of $650 million to the Federal government, 26 states, and the District of Columbia. OxyContin is a prescription opioid pain reliever that has been under fire for marketing that failed to warn about the drug's extremely addictive and abusive qualities.

The biggest payout will go to the government, who pursued Purdue with a felony charge of misleading physicians and consumers. The company will pay $600 million in penalties, while the CEO, general counsel, and former chief medical officer will pay $34.5 million in their own fees.

Only days before the $600 million announcement, Purdue agreed to pay 26 states, as well as the District of Columbia, $19.5 million for its deceptive marketing of OxyContin. Pennsylvania will receive $949,000 as part of the settlement.