History of Purdue Pharma in Timeline
Purdue Pharma, founded by John Purdue Gray and later owned by the Sackler family, was a privately held pharmaceutical company. The company is most notable for its production and marketing of opioid medications, particularly OxyContin. Purdue Pharma faced significant controversy and legal challenges related to its aggressive marketing tactics of OxyContin and its role in fueling the opioid crisis in the United States, leading to numerous lawsuits, bankruptcy filings, and settlements with various state and federal entities. The Sackler family's involvement and their knowledge of the drug's addictive potential have also been subjects of intense scrutiny and legal action.
1952: Sale to the Sackler Brothers
In 1952, the Purdue Frederick Company was sold to Arthur, Mortimer, and Raymond Sackler.
1971: Richard Sackler Joins Purdue Pharma
In 1971, Richard Sackler, the son of Raymond Sackler, started work at Purdue Pharma.
1972: Development of Contin
In 1972, Contin (a controlled drug-release system) was developed.
1984: Release of MS Contin
In 1984, Purdue Pharma's extended-release formulation of morphine, MS Contin was released.
1987: Arthur Sackler's Death
In 1987, Arthur Sackler died and his share passed to his brothers.
1991: Incorporation of Purdue Pharma L.P.
In 1991, the modern company, Purdue Pharma L.P., was incorporated and focused on pain management medication.
February 2, 1995: FDA Approval of OxyContin
On February 2, 1995, Purdue managed to get OxyContin approved, even though no long-term studies and no assessment of its addictive capabilities had been conducted.
1995: OxyContin Revenue
Between 1995 and 2001, OxyContin brought in $2.8 billion in revenue for Purdue Pharma.
1996: Release of OxyContin
In 1996, OxyContin was released after FDA approval, with a 12-hour dosage cycle.
1997: Internal memos suggest awareness of abuse
Between 1997 and 1999, Purdue Pharma's internal memos included the words "street value", "crush", or "snort", revealing the company's knowledge of the abuse of Oxycontin.
1997: Prescriptions for Non-Cancer Pain
In 1997 there was approximately 670,000 prescriptions for non-cancer related pain.
1999: Internal memos suggest awareness of abuse
Between 1997 and 1999, Purdue Pharma's internal memos included the words "street value", "crush", or "snort", revealing the company's knowledge of the abuse of Oxycontin.
1999: Craig Landau Joins Purdue Pharma
Craig Landau joined Purdue Pharma L.P. in 1999.
1999: Increase in Overdose Deaths
From 1999 to 2020, nearly 841,000 people died from drug overdoses in the United States.
1999: Richard Sackler Named President
In 1999, Richard Sackler was named president of Purdue Pharma.
1999: Increase in Prescriptions for Non-Cancer Pain
Purdue's promotion of OxyContin for the treatment of non–cancer-related pain led to a nearly tenfold increase in prescriptions for less serious pain, from about 670,000 in 1997 to about 6.2 million in 2002.
2000: Reports of OxyContin abuse surfaced
In 2000, reports of OxyContin abuse began to surface. A program sponsored by Purdue Pharma pronounced Oxycontin and hydrocodone the most commonly abused pain medications.
2000: Senators request Justice Department memo on Purdue Pharma executives
In 2019, Senators requested the Justice Department provide a copy of a memo that "purported to include evidence that Purdue Pharma executives may have lied when they told Congress that they had no knowledge of the extensive abuse and diversion of OxyContin before it was made known to them in 2000".
2001: OxyContin Revenue
Between 1995 and 2001, OxyContin brought in $2.8 billion in revenue for Purdue Pharma.
2001: Connecticut AG urges Purdue to take action on OxyContin abuse
In 2001, Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal urged Purdue Pharma to take action regarding the abuse of OxyContin, noting that while Purdue seemed sincere, there was little action being taken beyond cosmetic steps.
2002: Prescriptions for Non-Cancer Pain
By 2002 there was approximately 6.2 million prescriptions for non-cancer related pain.
2003: Richard Sackler Becomes Co-Chairman
In 2003, Richard Sackler became co-chairman of the board at Purdue Pharma.
2003: DEA found Purdue's "aggressive methods" exacerbated OxyContin's abuse
In 2003, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) determined that Purdue Pharma's "aggressive methods" had significantly worsened the widespread abuse of OxyContin.
2004: West Virginia AG sues Purdue for excessive prescription costs
In 2004, the West Virginia Attorney General sued Purdue Pharma for reimbursement of "excessive prescription costs" paid by the state, alleging deceptive marketing practices. The case was settled with Purdue paying the state $10 million.
October 2006: Internal memo reveals evidence of Purdue Pharma crimes
In October 2006, an internal memorandum revealed that government prosecutors found evidence that Purdue Pharma executives may have committed multiple crimes, including wire fraud and money laundering, to boost sales of OxyContin.
2006: Justice Department Review
According to Purdue documents in a review conducted in 2006 by the Justice Department, medical officer Curtis Wright met with Purdue Pharma representatives to help draft his medical officer's review (MOR) of OxyContin for the FDA.
May 2007: Purdue pleads guilty to misleading public about OxyContin addiction risk
In May 2007, Purdue Pharma pleaded guilty to misleading the public about OxyContin's risk of addiction and agreed to pay $600 million in one of the largest pharmaceutical settlements in U.S. history. Several executives also pleaded guilty to misbranding charges.
October 4, 2007: Kentucky sues Purdue over widespread OxyContin abuse in Appalachia
On October 4, 2007, Kentucky officials sued Purdue Pharma because of widespread OxyContin abuse in Appalachia, demanding millions in compensation.
2007: Purdue Fined for Misleading the Public
In 2007, Purdue paid one of the largest fines ever levied against a pharmaceutical firm for misleading the public about OxyContin's addictive nature.
2007: Establishment of Rhodes Pharmaceuticals
In 2007, Rhodes Pharmaceuticals, a sister company, was established in Rhode Island.
2007: Everett, Washington sues Purdue for increased costs and lack of intervention
In January 2017, the city of Everett, Washington sued Purdue Pharma based on increased costs for the city due to OxyContin use and Purdue's failure to intervene when they noticed odd sales patterns, as per agreement in the 2007 suit noted above.
2007: Settlement with Purdue fell short of expectations
In mid-2007, a $654 million settlement between Purdue Pharma and the government over deceptive marketing claims fell far short of what prosecutors sought just six months prior.
2007: Felony Conviction for Criminal Misbranding
The ambiguous text "is believed to reduce the abuse liability" became a key issue in subsequent lawsuits against Purdue and was quoted in the 2007 felony conviction of the company for criminal misbranding.
2008: Purdue starts "Savings Card" program
In 2008, Purdue Pharma started the OxyContin "Savings Card" program, offering patients discounts on their first five prescriptions. Internal data showed these discounts led to 60 percent more patients staying on OxyContin for longer than 90 days.
2012: Study links OxyContin marketing to heroin epidemic
In 2012, a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that 76% of individuals seeking help for heroin addiction started by abusing pharmaceutical narcotics, mainly OxyContin, drawing a direct connection between Purdue's marketing of OxyContin and the subsequent heroin epidemic in the U.S.
2013: Craig Landau Appointed CEO of Purdue Pharma (Canada)
In 2013, Craig Landau was appointed president and CEO of Purdue Pharma (Canada).
September 2015: Acquisition of VM Pharma
In September 2015, Purdue Pharma announced it would acquire VM Pharma, gaining access to an allosteric selective tropomyosin receptor kinase inhibitor program.
December 23, 2015: Kentucky settles with Purdue for $24 million
On December 23, 2015, Kentucky settled with Purdue Pharma for $24 million.
2016: Los Angeles Times Investigation
A 2016 investigation by the Los Angeles Times reported that in many people OxyContin's 12-hour schedule does not adequately control pain, resulting in withdrawal symptoms.
2016: Cumulative Revenues
Cumulative revenues had increased to US$31 billion by 2016.
2016: Sacklers Listed Among Wealthiest Families
In 2016, Forbes magazine listed the Sacklers as one of the 20 wealthiest families in the U.S.
January 2017: Everett, Washington sues Purdue for increased costs and lack of intervention
In January 2017, the city of Everett, Washington sued Purdue Pharma based on increased costs for the city due to OxyContin use and Purdue's failure to intervene when they noticed odd sales patterns.
June 22, 2017: Craig Landau Appointed CEO
On June 22, 2017, Craig Landau was appointed CEO of Purdue Pharma.
2017: Cumulative Revenues
Cumulative revenues had increased to US$35 billion by 2017.
2017: McKinsey Suggests Rebates for Overdoses
In a 2017 presentation to members of the Sackler family, McKinsey consultants suggested that Purdue pay pharmaceutical distributors a rebate for every overdose attributed to the pills the distributor sold.
May 2018: Confidential report reveals Purdue's awareness of OxyContin abuse
In May 2018, a confidential Justice Department report revealed that Purdue Pharma was aware of reports indicating that OxyContin pills were being crushed and snorted, stolen from pharmacies, and that some doctors were selling prescriptions.
May 2018: Six more states file lawsuits against Purdue over deceptive marketing practices
In May 2018, six states—Florida, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Tennessee, and Texas—filed lawsuits against Purdue Pharma, charging deceptive marketing practices.
July 2018: Steve Miller Becomes Chairman
In July 2018, Steve Miller became chairman of Purdue Pharma.
January 2019: 36 states sue Purdue Pharma
By January 2019, 36 states were suing Purdue Pharma.
March 2019: Purdue reaches $270 million settlement with Oklahoma
In March 2019, Purdue Pharma reached a $270 million settlement in a lawsuit filed by Oklahoma, which claimed its opioids contributed to thousands of deaths.
August 2019: Purdue Pharma negotiates settlement and files for bankruptcy
In August 2019, Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family were in negotiations to settle claims for $10-$12 billion, including a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing by Purdue.
September 15, 2019: Purdue Files for Bankruptcy
On September 15, 2019, Purdue Pharma filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in New York City.
September 2019: New York AG accuses Sackler family of hiding money overseas
In September 2019, the office of the New York Attorney General accused the Sackler family of hiding money by wiring at least $1 billion from company accounts to personal accounts overseas.
December 2019: Audit reveals Sacklers withdrew $10.7 billion from Purdue
In December 2019, an audit revealed that the Sackler family withdrew $10.7 billion from Purdue Pharma after the company began to receive legal scrutiny.
2019: Continued Marketing and Lawsuits
As late as 2019, Purdue continued to market and sell opioids and was still involved in lawsuits related to the opioid epidemic.
2019: Lawsuits initiated against Purdue by state and local governments
By 2019, over 1,000 lawsuits had been initiated against Purdue Pharma by state and local governments. States across the USA have filed claims for more than $2 trillion in the Purdue Pharma bankruptcy case.
2019: Sacklers Depart Purdue Pharma Board
By early 2019, the Sacklers had departed the Purdue Pharma board, leaving a board of five members.
2019: Massachusetts AG sues Purdue Pharma and Sackler family members
In 2019, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey filed a lawsuit against Purdue Pharma and eight members of the Sackler family, claiming they were "personally responsible" for deceptive sales practices.
2019: Senators request Justice Department memo on Purdue Pharma executives
In 2019, Senators requested the Justice Department provide a copy of a memo that "purported to include evidence that Purdue Pharma executives may have lied when they told Congress that they had no knowledge of the extensive abuse and diversion of OxyContin before it was made known to them in 2000".
October 2020: Purdue agrees to $8 billion settlement and pleads guilty to criminal charges
In October 2020, Purdue Pharma agreed to an $8 billion settlement that includes a $2 billion criminal forfeiture, a $3.54 billion criminal fine, and $2.8 billion in damages for its civil liability. The company will plead guilty to three criminal charges.
October 21, 2020: Settlement Reached in Bankruptcy Case
On October 21, 2020, it was reported that Purdue had reached a settlement potentially worth US$8.3 billion, admitting to conspiring to aid doctors dispensing medication without a legitimate medical purpose.
2020: Increase in Overdose Deaths
From 1999 to 2020, nearly 841,000 people died from drug overdoses in the United States.
March 2021: House Bill to Stop Sackler Immunity
In March 2021, the United States House of Representatives introduced a bill that would stop the bankruptcy judge in the case from granting members of the Sackler family legal immunity during the bankruptcy proceedings.
August 2021: SACKLER Act introduced to prevent lawsuit releases without bankruptcy
In August 2021, US Representatives introduced a SACKLER Act to prevent people who have not filed for bankruptcy from being released from lawsuits brought by states, municipalities or the U.S. government.
September 2021: Purdue Pharma to Rebrand as Knoa Pharma
In September 2021, Purdue Pharma announced that it would rebrand itself as Knoa Pharma.
September 2021: Purdue wins approval of $4.5 billion restructuring plan
In September 2021, Purdue Pharma won approval of a $4.5 billion plan that will legally dissolve the pharmaceutical manufacturer and restructure it into a public benefit corporation.
October 2021: Bill Referred to Subcommittee
In October 2021, the House Judicial Committee referred the bill to the Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law.
December 2021: Settlement overturned by Judge McMahon
In December 2021, the September 2021 settlement was overturned by Judge Colleen McMahon, stating the bankruptcy code did not permit the release of the Sacklers from civil liability.
2021: McKinsey Reaches Settlement
In 2021, McKinsey reached a settlement with the attorneys general of 47 states, the District of Columbia, and five territories to pay $537 million and to agree not to work with certain narcotics manufacturers.
2021: Purdue Pharma's Downfall Subject of Media
In 2021, Purdue Pharma's downfall was the subject of the Hulu miniseries Dopesick and the HBO film The Crime of the Century.
2021: Sacklers seek immunity from opioid lawsuits
In 2021, the Sacklers sought a controversial ruling to grant them immunity and protect their assets from lawsuits linked to the opioid crisis, seeking bankruptcy-like protection without filing for personal bankruptcy.
March 2022: Bankruptcy judge approves settlement involving states and Sacklers
In March 2022, a bankruptcy judge approved a settlement requiring the Sacklers to pay between $5.5 and $6 billion to a trust for opioid creditors. The settlement would shield the Sacklers from personal civil liability but not criminal liability.
January 2023: Bill Lapsed
In January 2023, the bill lapsed at the end of the 117th Congress.
May 2023: Appeals court endorses $6 billion Sackler settlement
In May 2023, the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals endorsed the $6 billion settlement, with the Sackler family giving up ownership of Purdue and all profits being sent to a fund to prevent and treat opioid addiction.
May 2023: Institutions drop Sackler name due to opioid crisis role
As of May 2023, at least 20 institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Yale University, have dropped the Sackler name in response to the family's role in the opioid crisis.
August 10, 2023: Supreme Court pauses Sackler bankruptcy settlement
On August 10, 2023, the Supreme Court of the United States paused the bankruptcy settlement and agreed to hear an appeal by the Department of Justice regarding the legality of the settlement, which would shield the Sackler family from civil lawsuits.
August 2023: SACKLER Act not passed
As at August 2023, the SACKLER Act has not passed into law.
2023: Purdue Pharma in Bankruptcy
As of August 2023, Purdue Pharma remains in chapter 11 bankruptcy, pending a Department of Justice appeal to the United States Supreme Court.
2023: Purdue Pharma's Downfall Subject of Media
In 2023, Purdue Pharma's downfall was the subject of the Netflix series Painkiller, and several documentaries and books.
June 27, 2024: Supreme Court overturns Sackler settlement
On June 27, 2024, the Supreme Court overturned the Sackler settlement in Harrington v. Purdue Pharma L.P., ruling that the US Bankruptcy Code does not permit granting liability relief to a party that did not file for bankruptcy protection.
2024: Settlement value adjusted for inflation
In 2004, West Virginia settled with Purdue for $10 million, the equivalent to approximately $17M in 2024.
