Purdue Pharma L.P. history

Sixty years later, in 1952, the company was sold to two other medical doctors, brothers Raymond and Mortimer Sackler, who relocated the business to Yonkers, New York.

In 1972, Contin (a controlled drug-release system) was developed.

In 1984, its extended-release formulation of morphine, MS Contin was released.

29, 1994: Sales and marketing executive Michael Friedman (who would later become Purdue’s CEO) sent a memo marked “very confidential” to three members of the Sackler family, including Richard, outlining the planned marketing strategy.

3, 1996: Richard Sackler, in an email string with Purdue executives about how best to promote the successful launch of OxyContin — first-year sales goals were reached four months early — described his aggressive approach to expanding the drug’s market, including internationally.

June 13, 1997: Minutes from a meeting of the OxyContin team spells out in greater detail the messaging balancing act for the drug, given Purdue’s keen interest in not scaring off the non-cancer pain market, which is much larger than the cancer-patient market.

He joined Purdue Pharma L.P. in 1999 and was chief medical officer and as vice president of R&D innovation, clinical and medical affairs.

By fall 2000, the problem had “grown to epidemic proportions” and in November 2000, federal, state, and local law enforcement joined forces to try and tackle the problem.

3, 2001: The Kentucky OxyContin Task Force issues recommendations to eliminate illegal use of the drug.

28, 2002: An email about working with institutions that are requesting grants from Purdue, apparently to support educational programs, advised sales reps not to write grant requests on behalf of an institution.

3, 2003: A Purdue position paper intended for medical directors and pharmacy directors of insurance plans argued against requiring prior authorization for OxyContin, which would restrict access to the drug.

12, 2004: A Food and Drug Administration letter responding to proposed promotional material submitted by Purdue for OxyContin cites numerous misleading or unsubstantiated marketing claims.

On October 4, 2007, Kentucky officials sued Purdue because of widespread OxyContin abuse in Appalachia.

Purdue started the OxyContin "Savings Card" program in 2008, with patients receiving discounts on their first five prescriptions.

In 2013, he was appointed president and CEO of Purdue Pharma (Canada).

Eight years later, on December 23, 2015, Kentucky settled with Purdue for $24 million.

Craig Landau was appointed CEO on June 22, 2017.

Steve Miller became chairman in July 2018 with a board of five members left.

In 2021, the Sacklers sought a controversial non-consensual third-party release in the authority of judge Robert D. Drain as to protect them and their assets from lawsuits linked to the opioid crisis.