LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — A $7.4 billion settlement reached with Purdue Pharma and its owners, the Sackler family, has become legally effective, Attorney General Aaron D. Ford announced Friday. The settlement caps nearly a decade of work by attorneys general from across the country in pursuing investigations and litigation over Purdue’s and the Sacklers’ role in fueling the opioid crisis.
Attorneys general launched a multistate investigation of Purdue in 2016. Nevada sued Purdue in June 2025.
MORE ON FOX5: Federal marijuana rescheduling could trigger change in Nevada
After Purdue filed bankruptcy in September 2019 in light of massive litigation against it, attorneys general took a lead role in the bankruptcy proceedings, including negotiating a new settlement that obtained more money from the Sacklers after the Supreme Court in June 2024 invalidated provisions in a prior settlement. The settlement gives funds to communities across the country, as well as individual victims and other groups who filed claims in the bankruptcy proceedings.
“This settlement holds Purdue and the Sackler family accountable for their role in fueling a crisis that has devastated families and communities across Nevada and the nation,” Ford said. “For too long, corporate decisions put profits over people and left communities like ours to bear the consequences. These funds will help Nevada strengthen treatment and recovery services, support prevention efforts, and continue the work of healing.”
Settlement terms
Fifty-five attorneys general representing all eligible U.S. states and territories signed onto the settlement. It resolves litigation against Purdue and the Sacklers for producing and aggressively marketing opioids in the United States.
The settlement permanently bars the Sacklers from selling opioids in the U.S. and delivers funds for addiction treatment, prevention and recovery to communities across the country over the next 15 years. Nevada is expected to receive $57,941,815.03 from the settlement, which will be directed to the Fund for a Resilient Nevada to support programs that help mitigate the harms, risks and ongoing impacts of the opioid epidemic across the state.
Most settlement funds will be distributed in the first three years. The Sacklers are paying more than $1.5 billion Friday, followed by approximately an additional $500 million in May 2027, $500 million in May 2028 and $400 million in May 2029. Purdue is paying approximately $900 million Friday. Nevada expects to receive its first payment later this year.
With this settlement, Nevada has secured a total of over $1.2 billion in opioid settlement funds.
Company operations transfer
Purdue’s manufacturing operations transfer effective Friday to Knoa Pharma LLC, which will be overseen by a board of directors who had no connection to Purdue. The settlement prevents Knoa from marketing opioids and provides for an independent monitor to ensure it provides these medicines in the safest possible manner that limits the risk of diversion.
The settlement also provides Purdue and the Sacklers will make public more than 30 million documents related to their opioid business.
Copyright 2026 KVVU. All rights reserved.
