The maker of the highly addictive OxyContin opioid painkiller has been granted a patent designed to treat opioid addiction. The patent includes a version of buprenorphine, which helps curb cravings in people addicted to opioid painkillers and/or heroin.

Purdue Pharma is the maker of Oxycotin and the Sackler family controls the company. Both parties have been the subject of much controversy as well as lawsuits due to their aggressive marketing. Critics claim the prescription drug’s popularity led to the current OxyContin opioid addiction epidemic. Earlier this year, Massachusetts filed a lawsuit against the company, directors, and Sackler family. The lawsuit is a first attempt to hold individuals responsible for the company’s marketing strategy.

Read more about patent to fight opioid addiction.

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Darin M. Klemchuk is founder of Klemchuk LLP, a litigation, intellectual property, and transactional law firm located in Dallas, Texas. He also co-founded Project K, a charitable movement devoted to changing the world one random act of kindness at a time, and publishes Thriving Attorney, a blog dedicated to exploring the business of the practice of law, productivity and performance for attorneys, and other topics such as law firm leadership and management, law firm culture, and business development for attorneys.

Click to learn more about Darin M. Klemchuk's law practice as an intellectual property lawyer.