Mass. sues opioid maker over crisis

Lawsuit is the first to personally name company executives

BOSTON — Massachusetts sued the maker of prescription opioid painkiller OxyContin and its executives Tuesday, accusing the company of spinning a “web of illegal deceit” to fuel the deadly drug abuse crisis while boosting profits.

Purdue Pharma is already defending lawsuits from several states and local governments, but Massachusetts is the first state to personally name the company’s executives in a complaint, Attorney General Maura Healey said. It names 16 current and former executives and board members, including CEO Craig Landau and members of the Sackler family, which owns Purdue.

The lawsuit alleges Purdue deceived patients and doctors about the risks of opioids, pushed prescribers to keep patients on the drugs longer and aggressively targeted vulnerable populations, like the elderly and veterans.

“Their strategy was simple: The more drugs they sold, the more money they made, and the more people died,” Healey said.

Purdue, based in Stamford, Conn., “vigorously” denies the allegations.

“We share the attorney general’s concern about the opioid crisis,” the company said in a statement. “We are disappointed, however, that in the midst of … negotiations with many states, the Commonwealth has decided to pursue a costly and protracted litigation process. We will continue to work … with the states toward bringing meaningful solutions,” it said.