A $26 billion opioid crisis settlement has been cobbled together, under which the “big three” drug distributors — McKesson, Cardinal Health and Amerisource Bergen Drug — involved in the massive marketing of opioids across the United States, collectively will pay up to $21 billion over 18 years (while “strongly disputing” the allegations against them of wrongdoing). Johnson & Johnson, one of the major producers of the drugs, will cough up $5 billion over nine years, and agrees to stop selling opioids. If accepted, this would resolve the claims of almost 4,000 entities, according to a press release from New York Attorney General Letitia James, who is taking the lead for the states.
The three companies released a sanctimonious joint statement Wednesday: “While the companies strongly dispute the allegations at issue in the trial, they believe this resolution will allow the companies to focus their attention and resources on the safe and secure delivery of medications and therapies while delivering meaningful relief to affected communities, and will also support efforts to achieve a broad resolution.”
