Purdue's bankruptcy plan would shield its Sackler family owners from opioid lawsuits in exchange for a US$6 billion contribution to the company's broader bankruptcy settlement.

The company's bankruptcy plan will require the company's Sackler family owners to contribute nearly $4.3 billion to the settlement of nearly 3,000 lawsuits.

Purdue lawyers secured permission for the multibillion-dollar company based in Stamford, Connecticut, to maintain business as usual -- paying employees and vendors, supplying pills to distributors, and keeping current on taxes and insurance.