Dec 17, 2019 - Health

The Sackler family withdrew billions from Purdue Pharma

Caitlin Owens, author of Vitals

Purdue Pharma headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

The Sackler family, owners of Purdue Pharma, withdrew $10.7 billion from the company over the last dozen years, placing the money in trusts and overseas holding companies, according to an audit commissioned by Purdue and filed in bankruptcy court yesterday.

Why it matters: The revelation may reignite the debate over how much the Sacklers should be required to pay to resolve the thousands of lawsuits pending against Purdue for its role in the opioid epidemic, the New York Times reports. The family has offered to pay at least $3 billion in cash as part of a settlement, but some states have argued that the Sacklers should have to pay more.

Go deeper: New court documents show former Purdue Pharma chief's role in marketing OxyContin

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