Connecticut Attorney General William Tong is expanding the lawsuit against Purdue Pharma over its alleged role in the opioid epidemic.
The state was already suing the pharmaceutical company, but Tong wants to take it a step further and point the finger at companies controlled by the Sackler family, the family in charge of Purdue Pharma.
Tong wants to widen the scope of the case the state is bringing against the family and the company, alleging that executives at the company knew about the harm their drug, OxyContin, was doing, but also that the company was moving profits to other companies. All of this occurred, according to Tong, while the company was putting increased pressure on its sales force to get the drug into the hands of as many people as possible.
“We will not allow Purdue Pharma to cry poverty after illegally transferring hundreds of millions of dollars to members of the Sackler family—unearned funds these individuals reaped as Connecticut families suffered,” Tong said in a statement.
The amended complaint alleges that Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family pushed a false narrative and told doctors that the addiction was not “caused by drugs,” but rather, was the result of “susceptible individuals.” Purdue, according to the complaint, also accused patients of suffering from “pseudoaddiction” caused by an inadequate dosage. To treat this so-called “pseudoaddiction,” doctors would have to increase their dosage.
Tong’s effort to expand the lawsuit is due to fears that the company may attempt to file for bankruptcy as the multi-state lawsuit heads to trial.
The Connecticut Attorney General wants to make every effort to ensure that Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family are held responsible for their alleged roles in the opioid epidemic in the United States.
According to a report from CNBC, the Sackler family may want to push for a global settlement.