McKinsey & Co is close to reaching a $500 million settlement with U.S. prosecutors over its involvement in the opioid crisis. The consulting firm has been under federal investigation for advising opioid manufacturers, including Purdue Pharma, on marketing strategies that allegedly fueled the epidemic of addiction and overdose deaths. The settlement, which is still under negotiation, aims to resolve both criminal and civil investigations by the U.S. Justice Department.

Federal prosecutors are examining whether McKinsey’s actions contributed to a criminal conspiracy to boost opioid sales, despite the devastating public health impact. McKinsey, which previously paid nearly $1 billion in opioid-related settlements across all 50 states, ceased advising clients on opioid matters in 2019. The firm maintains that its settlements do not admit to any liability or wrongdoing, though the case underscores its pivotal role in the opioid epidemic.