By Aidan Mortensen | KOAL News
The efforts of Utah to hold those responsible for the opioid crisis accountable found another success on Thursday, July 10 when the Office of the Utah Attorney General announced approximately $720 million nationwide in settlements with eight drugmakers that manufactured opioid pills. Due to this settlement, Utah could receive up to $8.8 million.
“The opioid epidemic has stolen the lives of too many Utahns and done immense damage to our communities. Today’s settlement brings in millions of dollars to help Utah heal from this epidemic and ensures families see the justice they deserve,” said Utah Attorney General Derek Brown. “We will continue to work to hold accountable those who harm Utahns.”
This settlement comes on the heels of a $57 million settlement with Purdue Pharma and the Sackler Family for their role in the Opioid crisis, alleging that they had participated in deceptive practices and intensified the situation in Utah by providing nearly $200,000 in gifts and payments to Utah prescribers between 2013 and 2017.
The eight defendants and the total amount they will pay in funds to address the opioid crisis as part of the deal are:
- 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
Utah, along with North Carolina, California, Colorado, Illinois, New York, Oregon, Tennessee and Virginia, negotiated the nationwide settlements.
With the exception of Indivior, these companies 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 are required to put in place a monitoring and reporting system for suspicious orders.
Indivior agreed not to sell or produce opioid products for the next 10 years. However, the pharmaceutical company will be allowed to continue marketing and selling medications to treat opioid use disorder.
“These settlements are monumental in holding drug manufacturers accountable for their role in the opioid crisis that has devastated communities across Utah,” said Margaret Wooley Busse, Executive Director of the Utah Department of Commerce. “Our Division of Consumer Protection is dedicated to protecting consumers and ensuring settlement funds combat the opioid epidemic and support those affected.”