OxyContin-maker Purdue Pharma has reached an agreement with the Oklahoma Attorney General’s office to settle a lawsuit that accused it of helping ignite the nationwide opioid crisis, a person familiar with the situation confirmed to CNBC.
The details of the settlement are expected to be released at a press conference Tuesday afternoon.
Purdue and other manufacturers faced a trial in May in a case brought by Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter. Accusations against the Stamford, Connecticut-based company include downplaying the addiction risk of opioids while overstating the benefits.
The company has denied any wrongdoing. They say labels for its painkiller carried warnings about the risk of abuse and misuse associated with the drugs.
A spokesperson for Oklahoma Attorney General’s office declined to comment. Purdue Pharma did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
OxyContin is a prescription drug used to treat moderate to severe pain in adults. From 1999 to 2017, nearly 218,000 people have died in the United States from overdoses related to prescription opioids, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. OxyContin first came on the market in 1996.
Purdue was founded in the 1950s by brothers Arthur, Mortimer and Raymond Sackler.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
