Purdue Pharma to be dissolved as judge approves criminal sentence in opioid case

OxyContin maker to be replaced by new company aiming to combat opioid crisis as legal settlement takes effect

OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma is set to be dissolved and replaced by a company focused on the public good by the week’s end, as a sweeping legal settlement resolving thousands of lawsuits takes effect.

A federal judge on Tuesday delivered a criminal sentence to the company to resolve a US Department of Justice investigation – a last necessary step to clear the way for the settlement.