<P> Craig Landau was appointed CEO on June 22, 2017 . He joined Purdue Pharma L.P. in 1999 . During his 14 years with the U.S. organization, he has served as Chief Medical Officer and as Vice President of R&D Innovation, Clinical and Medical Affairs . In this role and as part of the Company's Management Team, he and the R&D organization were responsible for a number of health policy initiatives as well as product registrations in the U.S. and other regions, including Butrans, reformulated OxyContin, Targiniq ER and Hysingla ER . In 2013, he was appointed President and CEO of Purdue Pharma (Canada). </P> <P> Craig earned his B.Sc. in Physiology and Anatomy from Cornell University and his M.D. from Mount Sinai School of Medicine . He completed his Anesthesiology residency at Yale University, with specialty training in chronic pain management, obstetric and peripheral vascular anesthesia . He is also a U.S. Army Veteran, having concluded a distinguished 14 - year career in 2005 . </P> <P> Purdue Pharma makes pain medicines such as hydromorphone, oxycodone, fentanyl, codeine, and hydrocodone . It is widely known for the production of drugs such as MS Contin, Oxycontin, and Ryzolt . In 1972, Contin (a controlled drug - release system) was developed . In 1984, its extended - release formulation of morphine, MS Contin was released . In 1996 its extended - release formulation of oxycodone, OxyContin was released . </P> <P> The controversy behind the company emerged as a result of the drugs that they made and how they carried high potential for abuse by drug abusers and people with a history of addiction . The most commonly abused medications that the company produces are MS Contin and OxyContin . Both can be abused by crushing, chewing, snorting, or injecting the dissolved product . This is a significant risk to the abuser because it can result in overdose and death . Drug - seeking tactics that addicts undergo to obtain the medication include "doctor shopping", which is visiting a number of different physicians to obtain additional prescriptions and refusal to follow up with appropriate examinations . Along with the high potential for abuse among people without prescriptions, there is also a risk for physical dependency and tolerance for patients that are prescribed them . Nevertheless, strong analgesic drugs remain indispensable to patients suffering from severe acute and cancer pain . </P>

When did purdue pharma begin manufacturing oxycontin in the united states