AG Kaul, 45 Other Attorneys General Plan to Join $720 Million Settlement with Eight Opioid Drug Makers

MADISON, Wis. – Attorney General Josh Kaul announced that he and 45 other attorneys general have indicated they plan to move forward with an agreement in principle with eight opioid manufacturers that could secure approximately $720 million nationwide for their alleged role in fueling the opioid crisis. Wisconsin would receive up to $12 million under the proposed settlements. The settlements have not been finalized, and the next step in the process is a sign-on period for local governments across the country.

“Effectively addressing the opioid epidemic takes resources,” said AG Kaul. “The more resources that can be brought to bear to fight this epidemic, the better.”

Under the proposed agreements, the eight companies would pay the following amounts:

• Mylan (now part of Viatris): $284,447,916 over nine years
• Hikma: $95,818,293 over one to four years
• Amneal: $71,751,010 over 10 years
• Apotex: $63,682,369 in a single year
• Indivior: $38,022,450 over four years
• Sun: $30,992,087 over one to four years
• Alvogen: $18,680,162 in a single year
• Zydus: $14,859,220 in a single year

In addition to these abatement payments, several of the settlements would allow states to receive free pharmaceutical products or cash in lieu of this product. Seven of the companies (not including Indivior) would also be prohibited from promoting or marketing opioids, making or selling any opioid products that contain more than 40 mg of oxycodone per pill, and are required to implement monitoring and reporting systems for suspicious orders. Indivior has agreed to not manufacture or sell opioid products for the next 10 years, but it would be able to continue marketing and selling medications to treat opioid use disorder.

Including this agreement in principle, and the recently announced proposed resolution with Purdue Phara and the Sackler family, Wisconsin and local governments have obtained settlements amounting to more than $874 million in funds from companies and individuals that allegedly helped fuel the opioid epidemic.

Attorney General Kaul is joined in securing these settlements in principle by the attorneys general of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.