2007 – U.S. government files criminal charges against Purdue Pharma

Announcement Date: January 1, 2007

2007 – The U.S. government files criminal charges against Purdue Pharma for marketing OcyContin as a safer and less addictive alternative to other opioids. The company and a handful of executives plead guilty, and agree to pay $634.5 million in fines.