OxyContin marketer agrees to pay $350M rather than face lawsuits

By GEOFF MULVIHILL
Associated Press

A company that helped develop marketing campaigns for OxyContin and other opioids has agreed to a $350 million settlement with U.S. states over the toll of the powerful prescription painkillers. New York Attorney General Letitia James said Thursday that Publicis Health engaged in predatory and deceptive marketing strategies to help Purdue Pharma increase sales of its drugs. It is the first ad agency with a major settlement over opioids in the U.S. Drugmakers, wholesalers, pharmacies and at least one consulting firm have agreed over the past several years to settlements with state and local governments in the U.S. worth more than $50 billion.