Purdue Pharma

Executive Summary

This is a private pharmaceutical company which is highly committed to serving healthcare community and improving patient’s lives. It is located in Stamford, Connecticut, United States. The company has grown tremendously having acquired many other companies in the same field of healthcare.

The company has had its fare share of law suits which others are still pending up to now. The current lawsuit includes;

-Oxycontin Lawsuits

Purdue Pharma the maker of Oxycontin faces numerous lawsuits of its opioid painkiller Oxycontin. Many of these lawsuits filed claims that the company failed to warn patients of the side effects of the opioid Oxycontin which it produces and distributes to doctors for sale.

Many patients who used these opioid pain killers had severe side effects which led to a number of them being addicted and some died. Although some settlements were made and paid, many lawsuits are still pending and many people have not yet been settled because it affected thousands of people.

The targeted defendants are the company itself and the owners of the company the Sackler family. If these cases are settled and people paid then it means Purdue Company will pay a lot of money which might lead to it being declared bankrupt. The cases are ongoing and others are still on the process of starting up. 

History of Purdue Pharma

Purdue Pharma was established in 1892 by two physicians John Purdue and George Frederick. In 1952, the company was sold to Mortner and Raymond Sackler. These two have owned the company and hence the company finally became the Sackler family company and is privately owned like that by this family. The company has continuously grown acquiring and expanding speedily to other parts of United States.

Subsidiaries of Purdue Pharma

1. Imbrium Therapeutics

This is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company which is dedicated solely through advancing medical science by developing new therapies in treating pain, cancer and disorders of the central nervous system.

Imbrium therapeutics was founded in 2019 as a subsidiary of Purdue Pharma with its area focus being therapy. It does this in full compliance of the laws governing the therapeutic and pharmaceutical industry.

1. Delphian Technology

The company was founded in 1999 which is based or located in Stamford Connectcut, United States. The company majorly focuses on development, manufacture and distribution of analytical instruments which are widely used in the pharmaceutical industry. 

The company is a subsidiary of Purdue Pharma and has Purdue to improve largely on the side of technology through this subsidiary. 

1. Rhodes Technologies

This is the company which is a subsidiary of Purdue Pharma. It normally engages on production, marketing and sale of mainly pharmaceutical ingredients plus chemicals and other forms of finished dosage of pharmaceutical products. This company was established in 1999 which is found in Washington United States. It has also grown and also acquiring some other pharmaceutical companies thus expanding widely the family of Purdue Pharma.

Popular Products of Purdue Pharma

1. Oxycontin

This is a product manufactured by Purdue pharma. Its generic name is Oxycodone. This is an opioid pain medication which is also called narcotic. It is a very strong medicine only prescribed when a patient requires an opioid in managing very severe pain which requires round the clock treatment in a daily basis.

This medicine is not used with people with Asthma or any blockage in the stomach or having any breathing problems. Should not be used by pregnant mothers and not taken along with alcohol. 

Its side effects include weak pulse, noisy breathing, confusion and convulsions.

1. Betadine

This is another drug from Purdue pharma which is used to prevent or treat bacterial infections. Its generic name is providone-iodine. It is should be used as per the prescription of the doctor.

Its side effects are like allergic reactions like rushes, itching, swollen or blistered skin. It has also very bad irritation where it is being used.

It should always be stored in a place with room temperature and always do not freeze. It should also be protected from heat.

1. Hysingla ER

Its generic name is Hydrocodone. This is an opioid pain medication. It is used for severe pain suppression and treatment. This medicine should not be used in large quantities because it can stop or slow breathing. Also taking too much can lead to addiction as opioids are mostly known for major addictions.

It has some side effects which includes; burning or pain when urinating, slow pulse or heart rate, noisy breathing, severe drowsiness and tremors.

1. Betasept

This is a medine for the skin. Its generic name is Chlorhexidine topical. It is used mainly to clean the skin in the process of preventing any infection that may be caused by skin injury, surgery and injections. It causes very rare allergic reactions which are life threatening.

This medicine should be used as directed by the doctor or as per labels indicated and do not use for longer periods or shorter periods than recommended or prescribed. 

Its side effects includes severe itching, swelling, blistering and severe irritation of the treated skin.

1. Dexmethylphenidate

This is a mild stimulant mostly to the central nervous system. It normally affects the chemicals which contribute to the impulse control in the brain. It is specifically used to treat ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). This drug should not be used if you have glaucoma, severe anxiety and agitation.

Always take this medicine as prescribed by the doctor otherwise it may cause blood circulation problems, causing numbness or discoloration of fingers or toes. Avoid taking in the evening because it may cause sleep problems and always be careful when doing something that requires you to be alert after taking this medicine because it causes blurred vision and may impair your thinking.

1. Colace

Its generic name is Docusate. This is a drug that is used to treat constipation. It used to soften stool and makes bowel movements easier and softer to pass. This prevents rectal damage or pain which is normally caused by hard stools or the strain that comes when passing the bowels. But this drug should not be used when one has blockage in the intestines and when having stomach aches, or sick with nausea or vomiting.

The dosage for this medicine should be followed according to the doctors’ prescription but adults and children should not use the same dosage as it will lead to overdose or under dose of one of them.

The side effects of this drug are; rectal bleeding or irritation, vomiting and stomach cramps, pounding heartbeats and continued constipation.

1. Intermezzo

Its generic name is called Zolpidem Sublingual. It is a sedative which affects chemicals in the brain that becomes unbalanced and causes sleep problems. It is used to treat insomnia.

Product Recalls and Lawsuits

1. Hydromorph Contin Recall April 2019

Purdue Pharma made this recall because of the safety reasons. This is because the recalled lots had hydromorphone levels which were outside those that were labeled in the drug itself.

This recall targeted the public at large and the wholesalers and distributors. After this recall was made, no claim has been made concerning any effect from the labeling issue and still the recall is in process.

Litigation Settlements

1. $270 Million Opioid Settlement

Purdue Pharma reached a final settlement of $270 million in which it was sued for its opioid contribution to the deaths of many people.

Opioids are painkillers which are very strong and very high side effects when used. They are normally prescribed when other pain killer drugs have been used and failed totally then these opioid can be used but with high integrity prescription.

The lawsuit which was filed by Oklahoma which in its suit claimed that the company and other pharmaceutical companies selling and producing opioids deliberately and falsely downplayed the risks involved with the opioids and persuaded doctors to prescribe their painkillers without actually revealing the side effects.

These opioids made many people become addicts from using these painkillers which are only used in severe painkillers where the other treatments have totally failed. Also other were overdosed and many died through the use of these opioids and this is why these companies were sued for claiming the lives of many through this illegal sale of very deadly painkillers which are very strong and not rarely prescribed without prior prescriptions.

Purdue payment was to go the construction and maintenance of an addiction centre in Oklahoma University. 

Sources:

https://www.purduepharma.com/healthcare-professionals/products/

https://www.drugs.com/manufacturer/purdue-pharma-lp-160.html

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-47710332

https://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/hc-sc/2019/69658r-eng.php

http://money.com/money/5640480/oxycontin-opioid-crisis-purdue-pharma-sackler-family-lawsuits/