Purdue Pharma, maker of OxyContin, reportedly exploring filing for bankruptcy

A bottle of OxyContin.
(Image credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Facing more than 1,000 lawsuits, Purdue Pharma is exploring filing for bankruptcy, people familiar with the matter told Reuters Monday.

Purdue Pharma makes OxyContin, and the lawsuits allege the company was a major contributor to the nation's opioid crisis by not being up front with doctors and patients about long-term use of the powerful drug. Filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy would halt those suits, Reuters reports, and Purdue could negotiate with plaintiffs under the supervision of a bankruptcy judge. People with knowledge of the matter said no final decision has been made, and Purdue could decide to continue to fight the lawsuits instead.

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Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.