OxyContin maker Purdue agrees to provide research data

August 15, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. | Updated August 15, 2019 at 6:13 p.m.

by Associated Press

In this Aug. 17, 2018, file photo, family and friends who have lost loved ones to OxyContin and opioid overdoses leave pill bottles in protest outside the headquarters of Purdue Pharma, which is owned by the Sackler family, in Stamford, Conn. New York is suing the billionaire family behind Oxycontin, alleging the drugmaker fueled the opioid crisis by putting hunger for profits over patient safety. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File)
In this Aug. 17, 2018, file photo, family and friends who have lost loved ones to OxyContin and opioid overdoses leave pill bottles in protest outside the headquarters of Purdue Pharma, which is owned by the Sackler family, in Stamford, Conn. New York is suing the billionaire family behind Oxycontin, alleging the drugmaker fueled the opioid crisis by putting hunger for profits over patient safety. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File)

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The maker of the powerful painkiller OxyContin has agreed to provide access to propriety research and other data to researchers at Oklahoma State University to help them find causes and treatments for drug addiction.

Stamford, Connecticut-based Purdue Pharma announced the agreement Thursday in a joint statement with OSU.

Purdue said it will provide OSU's new National Center for Wellness & Recovery access to "research molecules and certain associated data" that will help with research into addiction.

The company and its controlling family, the Sacklers, agreed earlier this year to pay Oklahoma $270 million to settle allegations they helped create the nation's deadly opioid crisis with their aggressive marketing campaign.

That money is being used to establish the research center at OSU.

Upcoming Events