Over six years since pharmaceutical companies began doling out massive payouts for their role in creating the opioid epidemic, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall continues to rake in settlement funds for the state, most recently bringing in $8 million from eight drug makers.
For years, multiple major drug manufacturers have agreed to pay fines to independent state attorneys general after rulings and agreements designed to hold companies accountable for their role in the epidemic and provide funds for treatment and prevention efforts.
In recent years, Marshall’s office has negotiated multiple multi-million dollar settlements with various drug companies, bringing the money to the state to abate the disastrous effects felt by the opioid epidemic.
SEE ALSO: AG Marshall finalizes $220 million settlement with two opioid distributors
On Friday, Marshall announced that Alabama's participation in a nationwide settlement with eight drug makers that manufactured opioid pills and worsened the nationwide opioid crisis. All eight defendants agreed to proceed with a sign-on period for local governments. Alabama will receive approximately $11.725 million from the eight drug makers, with full participation by local governments, public hospitals and other government agencies.
“This settlement marks another pivotal achievement in Alabama’s aggressive and uniquely successful legal strategy to hold opioid manufacturers, distributors, and others accountable,” Marshall said. “Our states have faced unimaginable loss due to the widespread abuse and misuse of opioids, and we have responded with decisive legal action.”
The eight defendants, along with the total payments made to the nationwide settlement, are as follows:
- Mylan (now part of Viatris): $284,447,916 paid over nine years
- Hikma: $95,818,293 paid over one to four years
- Amneal: $71,751,010 paid over 10 years
- Apotex: $63,682,369 paid in a single year
- Indivior: $38,022,450 paid over four years
- Sun: $30,992,087 paid over one to four years
- Alvogen: $18,680,162 paid in a single year
- Zydus: $14,859,220 paid in a single year
In addition, seven of the companies (not including Indivior) are prohibited from promoting or marketing opioids and opioid products, making or selling any product that contains more than 40 mg of oxycodone per pill, and putting in place a monitoring and reporting system for suspicious orders. Indivior has agreed not to manufacture or sell opioid products for the next 10 years, but it will be able to continue marketing and selling medications to treat opioid use disorder.
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