Advertising agency for OxyContin agrees to pay $350 million rather than face lawsuits
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Advertising agency Publicis Health, part of Publicis Groupe, has agreed to pay $350 million to U.S. states to avoid trials over its role in the opioid crisis. The settlement will be paid in the next two months, with most of the money to be used to fight the overdose epidemic. Publicis worked with OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma from 2010-2019, helping with marketing campaigns for OxyContin and other prescription opioids. The company provided physicians with digital recorders to analyze conversations about taking opioids. Publicis agreed to release internal documents detailing its work for Purdue and other opioid manufacturers. The settlement is not an admission of wrongdoing, and the company reaffirmed its policy of not taking new work on opioid-related products. Insurers will reimburse Publicis $130 million, and $7 million of the settlement amount will be used for states' legal fees. Other settlements over opioids with U.S. federal, state, and local governments have totaled more than $50 billion.

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https://www.pbs.org/newshour/economy/advertising-agency-for-oxycontin-agrees-to-pay-350-million-rather-than-face-lawsuits