Purdue Pharma

Purdue Pharma L.P., is a privately-held pharmaceutical company founded by physicians. It is located in Stamford, Connecticut.

Purdue is best known for painkillers, but they have also branched into other areas such as oncology and nutraceuticals.

In its early years, Purdue was known for its antiseptic product, Betadine Solution, and its Senokot laxatives. Today, it is best known for its pain-treatment products, MS Contin Tablets and OxyContin Tablets.

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History

Purdue was founded by Dr. John Purdue Gray and George Frederick Bingham in 1892 in New York City. It came under new private ownership in 1952. It currently employs about 1,200 people.^[1]

Structure

The company's different branches include Purdue Pharma L.P., The Purdue Frederick Company, Purdue Pharmaceutical Products L.P., and Purdue Products L.P. (www.pharma.com).

The company's manufacturing takes place at three different sites, which include: Purdue Pharmaceuticals L.P., a plant located in Wilson, North Carolina; The P.F. Laboratories Inc. in Totowa, New Jersey; and Rhodes Technologies L.P. in Coventry, Rhode Island. Purdue Pharma L.P. also has research labs located in Cranbury, New Jersey. OxyContin is currently legally and illegally distributed throughout the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Legal distribution takes place from the P.F. Laboratories Inc. in Totowa, New Jersey.

Prescription drug abuse

Purdue has been involved in measures against prescription drug abuse, particularly of its well known Oxycontin brand. In 2001, Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal issued a statement urging Purdue to take action regarding abuse of Oxycontin. Blumenthal noted that while Purdue seemed sincere, there was little action being taken beyond "cosmetic and symbolic steps."^[2] After Purdue announced plans to reformulate the drug, Blumenthal noted that this would take time, and that "Purdue Pharma has a moral, if not legal, obligation to take effective steps now that address addiction and abuse even as it works to reformulate the drug."^[3] The company has since implemented a comprehensive program designed to assist in detection of the illegal trafficking and abuse of prescription drugs without compromising patient access to proper pain control.

In May 2007, the company pleaded guilty to misleading the public about Oxycontin's risk of addiction. Purdue Pharma, its president, top lawyer, and former chief medical officer agreed to pay $634.5 million in fines for claiming the drug was less addictive and less subject to abuse than other pain medications.^[4]

The State of Kentucky vs. Purdue

On October 4, 2007 Kentucky officials sued Purdue because of widespread Oxycontin abuse in Appalachia. A lawsuit filed by Kentucky Attorney General Greg Stumbo and Pike County officials demands millions in compensation from drug maker Purdue Pharma. ^[5]

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