Purdue Pharma sentenced in criminal opioid case while company leaders avoid charges

NPR | By Brian Mann

Published April 29, 2026 at 6:44 AM EDT

Purdue Pharma will pay the DOJ $225 million in a criminal settlement and members of the Sackler family who own the Oxycontin-maker also contribute billions of dollars to a bankruptcy deal, but the private drug firm's leaders will avoid prison time.

Brian Mann

Brian Mann is NPR's first national addiction correspondent. He also covers breaking news in the U.S. and around the world.

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