Purdue Pharma, Sacklers to pay $7.4bn in new opioid settlement
Al JazeeraJan 22
Sacklers, Purdue Pharma Agree to $7.4B Opioid Crisis Settlement
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Above: The prescription medicine OxyContin on display on Aug. 21, 2001. Image copyright: Darren McCollester/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family have reached a new $7.4B settlement to resolve thousands of lawsuits over their role in the opioid crisis, with the Sacklers contributing $6.5B and Purdue paying $900M over 15 years.
The settlement represents a $1.4B increase from the previous $6B deal that was rejected by the US Supreme Court in 2024, which had attempted to shield the Sacklers from civil lawsuits without declaring bankruptcy themselves.
Under the new agreement, the Sacklers will relinquish control of Purdue Pharma, which will become a new entity with its board appointed by states and other plaintiffs, and the family will no longer be allowed to sell opioids in the United States.
The Spin
Narrative A
The settlement represents a significant victory for accountability in the opioid crisis, forcing the Sacklers to pay their highest amount yet and relinquish control of their company. The deal ensures billions will go directly to communities devastated by the crisis while maintaining victims' rights to pursue additional legal action if they choose not to participate in the settlement.
Narrative B
The Sackler family has consistently denied any wrongdoing and maintains that the legal theory of "public nuisance" underlying the lawsuits is devoid of merit. Much of the family's wealth remains in offshore accounts beyond the reach of lawsuits, and they have pledged to vigorously defend themselves against any future litigation.
