Opioid sales fuel Purdue Pharma regulation as critics shout "blood money"

The decision of the manufacturer of OxyContin, Purdue Pharma, and its owners, the Sackler family, to sell more OxyContin in order to pay for its role in exacerbating the opioid crisis in the country has sparked criticism shouting at "blood money".

Lynn Wencus, whose son, Jeff, died at age 33 from an overdose in 2017, told The Associated Press. "It's ridiculous. All that would be almost comical if we did not talk about human lives here. "

Opioids, including painkillers such as OxyContin and illicit drugs such as heroin and fentanyl, have been attributed to more than 400,000 deaths in the United States over the past two decades.

The Sacklers agreed to pay $ 3 billion, plus up to $ 1.5 billion from the sale of their Mundipharma business, which sells opioids worldwide.

The multi-billion dollar provisional settlement with Purdue Pharma would raise funds to help repair the damage caused by opioids by … selling more OxyContin.

This is one of the reasons why two dozen states have rejected the agreement.

"The settlement agreement essentially requires that settlement payments be made based on future sales and profits of opioids. It does not seem like the right way to go, "said Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker this week.

Massachusetts is among the many states that have pledged to continue to press against society, especially against members of the Purdue-owned Sackler family. On Tuesday, North Carolina became the last state to sue the Sacklers.

Purdue, based in Stamford, Connecticut, is considered a major villain in the opioid crisis in 2,600 lawsuits filed by state, local and tribal governments, hospitals, unions and others, filed for bankruptcy Sunday in the first stage of the implementation of the Regulation.

THE SACKLER FAMILY OF PURDUE PHARMA USED HIDDEN ACCOUNTS FOR A $ 1B TRANSFER: SHORT DOCS

Under this deal, valued by Purdue at a potential of more than $ 10 billion over time, the Sacklers would relinquish ownership of the company, which would be reconstituted into a "public good trust." Its benefits from opioids, as well as antidotes to overdoses and addiction treatment drugs, would move toward regulation.

While OxyContin and other drugs of this type have widely recognized medical uses – namely, to relieve intense pain – activists and others are concerned about the prospect of continuing sales of Purdue opioids in the United States. and abroad.

"It's shameful," said AP Ed Bisch, one of the first parents to face Purdue. His son died of an overdose of OxyContin at age 18 in 2001. "If we continue to sell OxyContin, there will be more and more accidental drug addicts."

Leading local government attorneys have agreed in principle, along with 24 states, who plan to use the money for addiction treatment programs, among other goals. Twenty-four other states rejected the regulation. A federal bankruptcy judge may decide to approve, reject or request amendments.

This would not be the first time that ongoing sales of a problematic product would be used to fund a settlement of its rights. More than 20 years ago, the major tobacco companies entered into an agreement with the states that partly based their payments on cigarette sales.

These payments continue to this day. Last year, the framework agreement with 46 US states resulted in $ 126 billion in payments, with ongoing payments of $ 9 billion a year. As part of the settlement, tobacco companies have agreed to severe restrictions on the use of cartoon characters, advertising gifts and billboards.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Prescription opioids are often given to cancer patients suffering from acute pain at the end of life and to people who are injured or have undergone surgery.

If Purdue stopped selling opioids, it might not have a major impact on the nation's drug supply. The company only accounts for a small share of the market; the vast majority of opioid tablets sold are generic.

Associated Press contributed to this report.