New York Attorney General Letitia James announced a settlement with eight pharmaceutical companies, requiring them to pay approximately $720 million for their involvement in the opioid crisis. The funds will be used to provide resources to communities in New York and across the nation to address opioid addiction. New York is set to receive up to $38.7 million from this settlement.
Attorney General James stated, “For years, drug companies prioritized profits at the expense of struggling New Yorkers who became trapped in deadly opioid addictions.” She emphasized that these resources would aid in healing communities affected by the crisis.
The companies involved and their respective payments are: Mylan (now part of Viatris) with $284,447,916 over nine years; Hikma with $95,818,293 over one to four years; Amneal with $71,751,010 over 10 years; Apotex with $63,682,369 in a single year; Indivior with $38,022,450 over four years; Sun with $30,992,087 in one to four years; Alvogen with $18,680,162 in a single year; and Zydus with $14,859,220 in a single year. Payments will commence as early as 2026.
In addition to monetary settlements, the companies will provide additional funding and treatment medications valued at approximately $86 million. All companies except Indivior are prohibited from promoting or marketing opioids and must implement monitoring systems for suspicious orders. Indivior will cease manufacturing or selling opioid products for 10 years but can continue selling treatments for opioid addiction.
The settlement negotiations were led by Special Counsel Monica Hanna and Assistant Attorney General Matthew Conrad under First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy’s supervision. Other states involved include California, Colorado, Illinois, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, and Virginia.
Attorney General James has been instrumental in holding accountable those responsible for the opioid epidemic and securing over $3 billion for New York’s abatement efforts. This includes settlements with major companies like Purdue and Johnson & Johnson and multistate coalitions reaching agreements with CVS and Walgreens.
