The billionaire Sackler family has become more involved recently in settlement talks to resolve more than 1,600 lawsuits claiming its Purdue Pharma helped fuel the nation's opioid epidemic, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Lawyers for the plaintiffs, which include many cities and counties, have requested at least $10 billion from the makers of OxyContin and its owners, according to people familiar with the matter cited by the WSJ.
A settlement would likely require more than money and include treatment programs for people suffering from addiction, according the WSJ.
Members of the Sackler family reportedly became more involved in settlement discussions late last year after many of the lawsuits were consolidated into multidistrict litigation, which revealed that Purdue Pharma may not have enough assets to cover its potential liability.
Purdue Pharma told the WSJ that the company is in active discussions with state attorneys general but was unaware of specific demands from plaintiffs' lawyers.
The Sackler family has come under increased scrutiny for its role in the company. Some members have been named in lawsuits, and recently the House Oversight Committee asked the company to hand over several documents that may reveal more about the Sacklers.
Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family deny allegations brought in the lawsuits.