Purdue pleads guilty to three felony charges over marketing of OxyContin under settlement that requires Purdue to be dissolved and transformed into an entity that provides addiction and overdose medicines. Twenty-five state AGs oppose creation of a PBC, arguing Purdue should be sold to another company.

Two settlements totaling $729m resolve kickback claims related to speaker programs and copay charities; Novartis will limit payments to healthcare professionals for providing medical education under a new corporate integrity agreement.

Government is pursuing behavior it once would have taken a pass on, former DOJ attorney notes; pharma companies have inked 16 settlements in past year.