In brief
McKinsey's agreement with the US Department of Justice addresses its past collaboration with Purdue Pharma in promoting OxyContin amid the opioid crisis.
Consulting firm McKinsey has agreed to pay $650 million to settle criminal charges regarding its involvement in the US opioid crisis. The US Department of Justice stated that McKinsey conspired with Purdue Pharma, manipulating the marketing of OxyContin, a widely misused painkiller. McKinsey apologized, acknowledging the harm caused by opioids in society. Alongside the settlement, former partner Martin Elling is expected to plead guilty to obstruction for destroying relevant documents. McKinsey's deferred prosecution agreement means that with reforms over the next five years, prosecution could be paused, marking another chapter in opioid accountability, following Purdue Pharma's $8.3 billion settlement in 2020. The opioid epidemic has led to nearly 100,000 overdose deaths annually in the US, illustrating the ongoing crisis sparked by prescription drugs, heroin, and synthetic opioids like fentanyl.
