Originally published May 11, 2007 at 12:00 AM | Page modified May 11, 2007 at 2:02 AM
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ShareOxyContin deceit draws $634.5M fine
The maker of the powerful painkiller OxyContin and three of its current and former executives pleaded guilty Thursday to misleading the...
The Associated Press
ROANOKE, Va. — The maker of the powerful painkiller OxyContin and three of its current and former executives pleaded guilty Thursday to misleading the public about the drug's risk of addiction, a federal prosecutor and the company said.
Purdue Pharma, its president, top lawyer and former chief medical officer will pay $634.5 million in fines for claiming the drug was less addictive and less subject to abuse than other pain medications, U.S. Attorney John Brownlee said.
The plea agreement settled a national case and came two days after the Stamford, Conn.-based company agreed to pay $19.5 million to 26 states and the District of Columbia to settle complaints that it encouraged physicians to overprescribe OxyContin.
Designed to be swallowed whole and digested over 12 hours, OxyContin can produce a heroinlike high if crushed and then swallowed, snorted or injected.
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