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Purdue, Opioid Makers Face Federal Reimbursement Demand

  • Filing signals government has interest in opioid lawsuits
  • DOJ’s move may make settlement more expensive, professor says
Bottles of Purdue Pharma L.P. OxyContin medication.

Bottles of Purdue Pharma L.P. OxyContin medication.

Photographer: George Frey/Bloomberg

Updated on

The opioid epidemic just got more painful for Purdue Pharma LP and other makers of the pain-killing drugs as the U.S. government said it’ll seek reimbursement from the companies for tax dollars spent battling the public-health crisis.

The U.S. Justice Department said it’ll argue that it’s entitled to a portion of any settlements or judgments in a consolidated case involving more than 300 lawsuits against Purdue, Johnson & Johnson and other opioid makers and distributors.