Purdue Pharma
Purdue Pharma L.P. was a privately held U.S. pharmaceutical company that developed and marketed prescription medicines, notably the opioid analgesic OxyContin, until ceasing operations on May 1, 2026, when it was replaced by nonprofit successor Knoa Pharma LLC focused on opioid abatement.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1952
- HeadquartersStamford, United States
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Purdue Pharma does
Purdue Pharma L.P. was a privately held, U.S.-domiciled pharmaceutical company headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, that developed, manufactured, and marketed prescription medications and consumer health products. Founded in 1952 and controlled for decades by the Sackler family, the company became widely known for its opioid analgesic franchise, most notably OxyContin (launched 1996), which became one of the most prescribed opioid pain medications in the United States. Purdue also operated wholly-owned subsidiaries spanning biopharmaceutical R&D (Imbrium Therapeutics L.P.), CNS therapeutics (Adlon Therapeutics L.P.), biotech ventures (Greenfield BioVentures L.P.), and additional pharmaceutical product lines (Rhodes Pharmaceuticals L.P. and Purdue Pharmaceuticals L.P.). The company maintained a pre-dissolution workforce of 5,001–10,000 employees and distributed medicines through traditional pharmaceutical channels targeting pharmacies, hospitals, and healthcare providers.
The company's technology base centered on small-molecule drug development and formulation, with proprietary R&D concentrated in opioid analgesics, oncology, and CNS therapeutics. Its most notable pipeline asset at dissolution was tinostamustine, an investigational agent with dual mechanisms of action being evaluated in a registrational-intent Phase 2/3 adaptive platform trial (GBM AGILE) for glioblastoma in partnership with the Global Coalition for Adaptive Research (GCAR). As a prescription pharmaceutical manufacturer, Purdue derived revenue from drug sales through insurance providers, pharmacy benefit managers, and government healthcare programs, though specific pricing and revenue figures were never publicly disclosed.
Following its 2019 Chapter 11 filing, 2020 federal guilty plea, and 2026 sentencing to $5.5 billion in fines and forfeiture, Purdue permanently ceased operations on May 1, 2026 under a $7.4 billion bankruptcy settlement. The Sackler family contributed up to $7 billion over 15 years and relinquished all ownership in exchange for legal protections. The company's operations and remaining assets transitioned to Knoa Pharma LLC, a nonprofit entity owned by the Knoa Foundation, which will distribute former Purdue medicines at or below cost with a mandate focused on opioid abatement, overdose reversal agents, and opioid use disorder treatments.
Purdue Pharma firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Purdue Pharma
- Legal name
- Purdue Pharma L.P.
- Website
- https://purduepharma.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1952
- Operating status
- Closed
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Purdue Pharma L.P. was a privately held U.S. pharmaceutical company that developed and marketed prescription medicines, notably the opioid analgesic OxyContin, until ceasing operations on May 1, 2026, when it was replaced by nonprofit successor Knoa Pharma LLC focused on opioid abatement.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Purdue Pharma industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Pharmaceuticals
- NAICS
- Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412)
- SIC
- Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Pain Management & Anesthesiology Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAN)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Neurology & CNS Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAC), Neurology & Psychiatry (CNS) Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAF)
Keywords
Where Purdue Pharma is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Stamford
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Purdue Pharma business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels1 record
Purdue Pharma product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Purdue Pharma developed, manufactured, and marketed prescription medicines, primarily opioid analgesics anchored by OxyContin for managing severe pain, alongside a pipeline of CNS and oncology therapeutics (including the investigational glioblastoma agent tinostamustine). The company also operated several wholly-owned subsidiaries focused on biopharmaceutical research, CNS therapeutics, and bioventures. Following the May 1, 2026 dissolution, successor Knoa Pharma LLC distributes the former Purdue medicines, focusing on overdose reversal agents and opioid use disorder treatments at or below cost.
Product overview
Purdue Pharma L.P. was a pharmaceutical company that developed and marketed prescription medicines, primarily opioid analgesics. The company's flagship product was OxyContin. As of May 1, 2026, Purdue Pharma permanently ceased operations following a $7.4 billion bankruptcy settlement related to opioid litigation. The company operated several subsidiaries including Imbrium Therapeutics L.P., Adlon Therapeutics L.P., Greenfield BioVentures L.P., Rhodes Pharmaceuticals L.P., and Purdue Pharmaceuticals L.P. Prior to dissolution, Purdue was developing tinostamustine, an investigational agent for glioblastoma through clinical trials.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- OxyContin Opioid analgesic medication for managing severe pain; Purdue Pharma's flagship branded prescription product that became one of the most prescribed opioid pain medications in the United States and the subject of extensive federal and civil litigation.
- Tinostamustine Investigational pharmaceutical agent with dual mechanisms of action being developed as a potential first-in-class treatment for glioblastoma; currently in registrational-intent Phase 2/3 evaluation through the GBM AGILE adaptive platform trial.
Companies that use Purdue Pharma
Customer profileIdeal customer profiles3 records
Purdue Pharma technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Purdue Pharma partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Global Coalition for Adaptive Research (GCAR)coreGCAR and Purdue Pharma L.P. announced the initiation of clinical evaluation of tinostamustine in the GBM AGILE trial, an international adaptive platform trial for patients with glioblastoma. The trial aims to assess the drug's effectiveness for newly diagnosed and recurrent glioblastoma, with a focus on innovative treatment approaches. Tinostamustine is a drug with dual mechanisms of action being developed as a potential first-in-class treatment for aggressive brain cancer.
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Purdue Pharma competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Endo International: Specialty pharmaceutical company historically concentrated in opioid pain management and CNS therapeutics, with overlapping exposure to opioid litigation and generic specialty pharma products. Highly comparable to Purdue's pain/CNS focus and legal trajectory.
- Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals: Specialty pharmaceutical manufacturer with significant exposure to opioid pain products and CNS generics, also pursued bankruptcy restructuring amid opioid litigation. Directly comparable in product portfolio, regulatory exposure, and corporate restructuring profile.
- Indivior: Pharmaceutical company specializing in opioid use disorder treatments including buprenorphine-based therapies. Direct peer to the successor Knoa Pharma's addiction treatment portfolio and overlapping with Purdue's historical opioid franchise.
Broad incumbents
- Teva Pharmaceutical Industries: Large generic and specialty pharmaceutical company with a CNS and pain management portfolio that overlaps with Purdue's product mix. Broader scale and geographic footprint make it a broad incumbent comparable rather than a direct niche competitor.
- Johnson & Johnson: Diversified healthcare conglomerate with significant pharmaceutical operations in pain management and oncology, and one of the other major defendants in the broader opioid litigation landscape. Comparable as a broad incumbent in pharma with overlapping therapeutic categories.
- Allergan (now part of AbbVie): Major pharmaceutical company with CNS and pain management franchises, including legacy opioid product exposure. Comparable as a broad incumbent operating in the same therapeutic categories Purdue served.
- Pfizer: Global pharmaceutical leader with significant CNS and oncology pipelines, including active adaptive platform trial participation. Comparable in scale, R&D intensity, and clinical trial partnerships relevant to the tinostamustine GBM AGILE program.
- Eli Lilly: Major pharmaceutical company with established CNS and pain therapeutic franchises plus a substantial oncology pipeline. Comparable as a broad incumbent with overlapping therapeutic area focus.
Regional players
- Emergent BioSolutions: Specialty biopharmaceutical company focused on opioid overdose reversal products (including naloxone-based treatments) — directly aligned with the successor Knoa Pharma mission of providing overdose reversal agents and opioid use disorder treatments.
Emerging players
- Adapt Pharma (acquired by Emergent): Developer of Narcan (naloxone nasal spray) for opioid overdose reversal; closely aligned with the mission Knoa Pharma has assumed from Purdue. Listed as legacy reference for the overdose reversal therapeutic category.
Market position
Strengths3 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights4 records
Customer concentration
Purdue Pharma social profiles
Digital presencePurdue Pharma financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Purdue Pharma leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Purdue Pharma subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
Purdue Pharma funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Purdue Pharma M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments7 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Purdue Pharma
What does Purdue Pharma do?
Purdue Pharma developed, manufactured, and marketed prescription medicines, primarily opioid analgesics anchored by OxyContin for managing severe pain, alongside a pipeline of CNS and oncology therapeutics (including the investigational glioblastoma agent tinostamustine). The company also operated several wholly-owned subsidiaries focused on biopharmaceutical research, CNS therapeutics, and bioventures. Following the May 1, 2026 dissolution, successor Knoa Pharma LLC distributes the former Purdue medicines, focusing on overdose reversal agents and opioid use disorder treatments at or below cost.
Is Purdue Pharma a public or private company?
Purdue Pharma is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently closed.
When was Purdue Pharma founded?
Purdue Pharma was founded in 1952. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Purdue Pharma based?
Purdue Pharma is headquartered in Stamford, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Purdue Pharma's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Endo International, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals and Indivior. Broad incumbents are Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Johnson & Johnson, Allergan (now part of AbbVie), Pfizer and Eli Lilly. Emergent BioSolutions is listed as a regional player. Adapt Pharma (acquired by Emergent) is listed as an emerging player.
Does Purdue Pharma have an API?
No public API is recorded for Purdue Pharma.
What industry is Purdue Pharma in?
Purdue Pharma's product category is Pharmaceuticals. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAIAAAN, Pain Management & Anesthesiology Pharmaceuticals, with a secondary code of HLAIACAC, Neurology & CNS Specialty Pharmaceuticals. Its NAICS code is 325412 and its SIC code is 2834.