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Purdue Pharma

 
Hoover's Profile: Purdue Pharma L.P.
 
Contact Information
Purdue Pharma L.P.
1 Stamford Forum, 201 Tresser Blvd.
Stamford, CT 06901-3431
CT Tel. 203-588-8000
Fax 203-588-8850

Type: Private
On the web: http://www.purduepharma.com

Purdue Pharma has a prescription for what pains you. The company specializes in developing, manufacturing, and marketing sustained-release and long-acting treatments for chronic and severe pain. Its opioid drugs for pain relief include the controversial analgesic OxyContin (a controlled-release version of oxycodone) and slow-release morphine drug MS Contin. It is developing additional pain products through alliances with Labopharm and Shionogi. Purdue also sells a number of over-the-counter products, including hospital antiseptic Betadine and the Senokot line of laxatives. Purdue Pharma operates exclusively in the US market.

Officers:
President and CEO Purdue Pharma lP (USA): John H. Stewart
EVP and CFO: Edward B. (Ed) Mahony
VP IT Administration and CIO: Larry Pickett

Competitors:
Elan
Endo Pharmaceuticals
Johnson & Johnson

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Wikipedia: Purdue Pharma
 

Purdue Pharma L.P., is a privately-held pharmaceutical company founded by physicians. It is located in Stamford, Connecticut. In its early years, Purdue was known for its antiseptic product, Betadine Solution, and its Senokot laxatives. Today, it is best known for its pain-treatment products, MS Contin Tablets and OxyContin Tablets, but they have also branched into other areas such as oncology and nutraceuticals.

Contents

History

Purdue was founded by one Dr. John Purdue Gray and George Frederick Bingham in 1892 in New York City. It came under new private ownership in 1952. It currently employs about 1,350 people.[1]

Structure

The company's different branches include Purdue Pharma L.P., The Purdue Frederick Company, Purdue Pharmaceutical Products L.P., and Purdue Products L.P.

The company's manufacturing takes place at three different sites, which include: Purdue Pharmaceuticals L.P., a plant located in Wilson, North Carolina; The P.F. Laboratories Inc. in Totowa, New Jersey; and Rhodes Technologies L.P. in Coventry, Rhode Island. Purdue Pharma L.P. also has research labs located in Cranbury, New Jersey. OxyContin is currently distributed throughout the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Distribution takes place from the P.F. Laboratories Inc. in Totowa, New Jersey.

Oxycontin-related lawsuits

Purdue has been involved in measures against prescription drug abuse, particularly of its well known Oxycontin brand. In 2001, Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal issued a statement urging Purdue to take action regarding abuse of Oxycontin. Blumenthal noted that while Purdue seemed sincere, there was little action being taken beyond "cosmetic and symbolic steps."[2] After Purdue announced plans to reformulate the drug, Blumenthal noted that this would take time, and that "Purdue Pharma has a moral, if not legal, obligation to take effective steps now that address addiction and abuse even as it works to reformulate the drug."[3] The company has since implemented a comprehensive program designed to assist in detection of the illegal trafficking and abuse of prescription drugs without compromising patient access to proper pain control.[citation needed]

In May 2007, the company pleaded guilty to misleading the public about Oxycontin's risk of addiction, and agreed to pay $600 million. Its president, top lawyer, and former chief medical officer pleaded guilty as individuals to misbranding charges, a criminal violation, and agreed to pay a total of $34.5 million in fines. [4][5] In addition three top executives were charged with a felony and sentenced to 400 hours of community service in drug treatment programs.[6]

On October 4, 2007 Kentucky officials sued Purdue because of widespread Oxycontin abuse in Appalachia. A lawsuit filed by Kentucky Attorney General Greg Stumbo and Pike County officials demands millions in compensation from drug maker Purdue Pharma.[7]

References

External links


 
 

 

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Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Purdue Pharma" Read more