The upcoming hearing in Quebec comes after this week's news that Purdue Pharma, the company behind OxyContin, will plead guilty to federal criminal charges in the U.S.

The suit, launched in August 2018, names more than 40 manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors of opioids in Canada.

Another company owned by the Sackler family - makers of OxyContin - has used misleading claims and drug reps dressed up as doctors to peddle its signature painkiller in China

There are still more than 2,600 other lawsuits seeking to hold the drug industry accountable for an opioid crisis that has been linked to more than 400,000 deaths in the U.S. alone since 2000.

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.

David Eby said if the deal isn't expanded to include Canadian claims, the province will press ahead with its legal action.

The filing was anticipated before and after the tentative deal, which could be worth up to US$12 billion over time, was struck.

New York said it has uncovered the previously unknown wire transfers among family members, entities they control and several financial institutions.

Purdue is among several drugmakers and distributors that are facing lawsuits, seeking to hold them responsible for fuelling the U.S. opioid addiction crisis.

Questions and answers about the opioid crisis and what lies ahead.