Purdue Pharma and two other pharmaceutical companies failed to postpone a pivotal trial in Oklahoma over opioid-related allegations, as the state's attorney general accused them of exacerbating the crisis. The case, set for May, marks the first major trial stemming from over 2,000 lawsuits nationwide.
FILE PHOTO: Bottles of prescription painkiller OxyContin pills, made by Purdue Pharma LP sit on a counter at a local pharmacy in Provo, Utah, U.S., April 25, 2017. REUTERS/George Frey/File Photo
Oklahoma's legal team emphasized the urgency of the trial, with attorney Reggie Whitten stating, "This case needs to get to trial because people are dying every day." The state's lawsuit alleges the companies contributed to the opioid epidemic through misleading marketing practices.
Reuters reported that Purdue, owned by the Sackler family, is considering Chapter 11 bankruptcy to address potential liabilities. However, its legal team did not mention this during arguments to delay the May 28 trial, instead citing delays in receiving 1.6 million pages of evidence.
Cleveland County District Judge Thad Balkman rejected the request, stating the drugmakers had not proven prejudice from the evidence timeline. The companies plan to appeal the decision.
The 2017 opioid crisis saw 47,600 overdose deaths in the U.S., according to the CDC. Purdue and others deny wrongdoing, citing warning labels and external factors. Over 1,600 lawsuits are consolidated in federal court, with Oklahoma's case among 36 state-level actions against the company.
