Purdue Pharma, the manufacturer of OxyContin, was sentenced on Tuesday to pay $5.5 billion for its involvement in the opioid crisis. The company pleaded guilty in 2020 to charges of deceiving federal regulators and providing kickbacks to doctors to promote opioid sales. U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo highlighted the company's negligence towards patient safety, stating, "Purdue Pharma put profits over patient health and safety." The court ordered a criminal fine of $3.544 billion and an additional $2 billion in forfeiture. Purdue's Chairman, Steve Miller, was ordered to apologize to victims, and the court allowed nearly seven hours of victim testimony. Purdue Pharma is set to cease operations on May 1, 2026, with its assets transferring to a new company, Knoa Pharma LLC. This ruling underscores the ongoing repercussions of the opioid epidemic in the United States, which has devastated countless families and communities.