Purdue-Frederick Company

American company

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July 22, 2026

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The Purdue-Frederick Company, later renamed Purdue Pharma, was an American pharmaceutical company owned by the Sackler family. The Sacklers acquired the company in 1952 and applied aggressive marketing tactics to sell drugs. They developed OxyContin, a potent and highly addictive opioid pain reliever derived from oxycodone. Despite knowing the risks of addiction, the Sacklers downplayed OxyContin's dangers, deceiving doctors into prescribing it liberally. This contributed significantly to the U.S. opioid epidemic, resulting in widespread addiction and overdose deaths. The company accrued billions in revenue from OxyContin sales. In 2025, the Sackler family agreed to a $7.4 billion settlement and relinquished control of Purdue Pharma, agreeing to pay out the sum over 15 years and be barred from selling opioids in the United States.12

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Sackler family
…owners of the pharmaceutical company Purdue Pharma. Although the family is well known for its philanthropic contributions to major institutions in the United States and Europe, its members gained notoriety in the early 21st century for their role in promulgating the U.S. opioid epidemic. Purdue Pharma had accrued billions of…
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…owners of the pharmaceutical company Purdue Pharma. Although the family is well known for its philanthropic contributions to major institutions in the United States and Europe, its members gained notoriety in the early 21st century for their role in promulgating the U.S. opioid epidemic. Purdue Pharma had accrued billions of…
Read More