Sackler family wins immunity from opioid lawsuits

The billionaire owners of Purdue Pharma will be protected from lawsuits linked to the US opioid crisis in exchange for a $6bn (£4.85bn) settlement.

Purdue, which filed for bankruptcy in 2019 amid thousands of lawsuits, made drugs like OxyContin and is blamed for fuelling the crisis.

On Tuesday, an appeals court ruled that its owners, the Sackler family, would receive full immunity from civil suits.

In exchange, they will pay $6bn to help address opioid addiction.