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Craig Landau
Former CEO of Purdue Pharma
Physician and CEO of Purdue Pharma who continued aggressive OxyContin marketing during the peak of the opioid epidemic while the company accumulated over 3,000 lawsuits and eventually pleaded guilty to federal criminal charges
Overview
Craig Landau (born circa 1965) is a physician who served as CEO of Purdue Pharma from 2017 until the company dissolution. A medical doctor by training, Landau joined Purdue Pharma in 1999, the same year that OxyContin sales surged to over $1 billion, and rose through the ranks of the company during the period when the opioid epidemic killed hundreds of thousands of Americans. As CEO, Landau oversaw the company during its second federal guilty plea in 2020, when Purdue admitted to criminal charges including conspiracy to defraud the United States and violating the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute. Under his leadership, Purdue continued to promote OxyContin despite the company own data showing massive diversion and abuse. The company filed for bankruptcy in 2019 in an attempt to resolve over 3,000 lawsuits from states, cities, and tribal nations. Purdue agreed to an $8.3 billion criminal and civil resolution with the DOJ in 2020, though the actual amount collected was far less. Landau received millions in compensation during his tenure as CEO of a company that the DOJ found had "knowingly and intentionally conspired and agreed with others to aid and abet" the dispensing of opioids without a legitimate medical purpose. No individual Purdue executive, including Landau, has served prison time for the company role in the opioid epidemic that has killed over 500,000 Americans.
Key Affiliations
Controversies & Concerns
Served as CEO during Purdue second federal guilty plea in 2020 for conspiracy to defraud the United States and violating the Anti-Kickback Statute
Continued aggressive OxyContin marketing during the peak of the opioid epidemic while over 500,000 Americans died from opioid overdoses
Oversaw Purdue 2019 bankruptcy filing designed to resolve 3,000+ lawsuits while shielding the Sackler family from personal liability
Received millions in executive compensation from a company the DOJ found had "knowingly and intentionally" aided illegal opioid dispensing
Joined Purdue in 1999 and rose through the company during the entire period of the opioid crisis, making him complicit in the systemic marketing fraud
No individual Purdue executive including Landau has served prison time despite the company two criminal guilty pleas and admission of causing hundreds of thousands of deaths
Purdue agreed to $8.3 billion DOJ resolution in 2020, though actual collections were far less due to the bankruptcy proceedings
Related Investigations (4)
Criminal Charges & Violations
2 documented violations
18 U.S.C. 371 - Conspiracy to Defraud the United StatesPurdue Pharma pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States by impeding the lawful function of the DEA(federal)
42 U.S.C. 1320a-7b - Federal Anti-Kickback StatutePurdue admitted to paying illegal kickbacks to healthcare providers to prescribe OxyContin(federal)
Known Associates & Connections
Richard Sackler
Former Purdue president and Sackler family member who directed aggressive OxyContin marketing; extracted billions before bankruptcy
Steven Collis
AmerisourceBergen CEO whose company distributed billions of opioid pills while ignoring red flags of diversion
Sources & Documentation
3 documented sources from official records, investigations, and reports
DOJ: Purdue Pharma Pleads Guilty to Two Federal Criminal Charges(2020-10-21)
Bankruptcy Court: In re Purdue Pharma L.P., Case No. 19-23649(2019)
STAT News: Purdue Pharma Opioid Crisis Coverage(2020)
Personal Information
Education
- •Medical degree (M.D.)
Key Timeline
1999
Joins Purdue Pharma as the opioid epidemic begins to accelerate
2017
Appointed CEO of Purdue Pharma as lawsuits mount from states, cities, and tribal nations
2019-09
Purdue files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to resolve over 3,000 opioid-related lawsuits
2020-10-21
Purdue pleads guilty to three federal criminal charges including conspiracy to defraud the U.S.; agrees to $8.3 billion resolution
2021
Purdue dissolution plan approved; company to be restructured as a public benefit company; Sackler family contributes $4.5 billion from personal fortune