Purdue Pharma, Stamford, Connecticut, United States: Dr. Craig Landau, Visionary Pharmaceutical Leader

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• Craig led a major effort to improve access to a leading treatment of opioid use disorder that the company makes in generic form. The Company is planning to distribute the product to qualified organizations at very low cost to increase access to patients for whom cost may be a barrier to treatment.
• Craig led the Company in distributing an overdose reversal medication for no profit.
• Craig led the Company’s support of the development of a lower-cost OTC naloxone nasal spray (tradename RiVive™) by Harm Reduction Therapeutics, Inc., by contributing tens of millions of dollars, extensive technical expertise, and rights to important data. This FDA-approved product was introduced in December 2023.
• In an environment where medicines are becoming more expensive, Craig enhanced the Company’s focus on the generics pipeline to make medications more accessible to patients. Since 2022, 6 generic medications have been approved for various CNS and gastrointestinal indications.
• Craig maintained the value of the company, continuing R&D momentum and colleague engagement.
• Craig prioritized diversity by starting a CEO’s Advisory Group on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. This group has built three robust and flourishing Employee Resource groups.
• Since 2022, Craig grew the percent of women on the Executive team to 66%.
• Craig built a culture of growth and psychological safety by championing HR programming focused on employee career development, mentoring, networking, and wellbeing, resulting in demonstrated employee commitment levels at 91%.

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Craig Landau, MD, has served as President and CEO of Purdue Pharma since June 2017.  Dr. Landau demonstrates visionary leadership as he navigates a company at the center of one of the greatest challenges in public health: the opioid crisis. As background, Craig is a physician who served in the U.S. Army Reserve Medical Corps for more than 14 years. His entire focus is, and has always been, to serve patients.

Purdue develops and manufactures prescription medications—including opioid pain medicines for appropriate patients. Under his management, Purdue ended its promotion of opioids by sales representatives to prescribers; eliminated its opioid sales force; established an Office of Corporate Social Responsibility and a vibrant grant-giving program; assembled a new management team; renewed the company’s focus on R&D; and prioritized the advancement of public health initiatives – namely, medicines intended to treat opioid overdoses and opioid use disorder.

To that end, Craig is a bold leader in the service of the public good. He led the Company in pursuing public health initiatives involving the development and distribution of medicines that reverse overdoses and treat opioid use disorder, at zero profit to the Company.

First, Craig led an effort to improve access to a leading treatment of opioid use disorder that the Company makes in generic form, and that will be provided to qualified organizations at very low cost. Second, Craig led the Company in developing and distributing an overdose reversal medication for no profit. Finally, Craig led the Company’s support of the development of a lower-cost OTC naloxone nasal spray (tradename RiVive™) by Harm Reduction Therapeutics, Inc., by contributing tens of millions of dollars, extensive technical expertise, and rights to data. This FDA-approved product was introduced in December 2023.

Purdue is a vibrant pharmaceutical company. Craig has made changes to the business to further diversify its R&D pipeline. Under his leadership, the Company is leveraging its unique capabilities and expertise to develop a portfolio of investigational medicines that potentially address important medical needs in multiple therapeutic areas including oncology and central nervous system disorders. Additionally, since 2022, he oversaw approval of 6 generic medicines in an effort to keep costs lower for patients and improve patient access.

Craig ably navigates the challenge of leading an organization in bankruptcy with a vision for the future that focuses on the public good.

In addition to advancing the business, R&D pipeline and public health initiatives, Craig is laser-focused on maintaining the engagement and retention of the Company’s many talented, dedicated employees. Notwithstanding the strong market for talent in the pharma sector, and despite the challenges of bankruptcy, truly extraordinary people choose the Company as their employer because they believe in the future vision. Craig is an open-door, transparent leader who prioritizes communication. He initiated an Advisory Committee on DEI to ensure employees experience a strong sense of inclusion and belonging. He increased the percentage of women on the Executive Committee to more than 60% since 2022. And he champions HR programming that prioritizes wellbeing and fosters a positive company culture. Employee surveys demonstrate his success, as 91% of employee respondents say they feel connected to their colleagues, engaged in the Company’s future purpose, and inspired to contribute actively.

Craig is deserving of an Achievement in Management award, as he expertly advances the business in the service of patients, navigates an organization through a complex bankruptcy, and provides a future vision of serving the public good that has proven to inspire employees.