Teva Pharm to pay Oklahoma $85 million to settle opioid claims

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

BUSINESS NEWS MAY 26, 2019 / 12:08 PM / UPDATED AN HOUR AGO

Teva Pharm to pay Oklahoma $85 million to settle opioid claims

BOSTON/JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Teva Pharmaceutical Industries said on Sunday it had agreed an $85 million settlement with the state of Oklahoma days before the company was set to face trial over allegations that it and other drugmakers helped to fuel the U.S. opioid epidemic.

Teva, the world’s largest generic drugmaker, said the settlement “does not establish any wrongdoing on the part of the company” and denied contributing to opioid abuse in Oklahoma.

Claims against Teva focused on the branded opioid products Actiq and Fentora as well as generic painkillers it produced.

The trial against Israel-based Teva, along with Johnson & Johnson, was set to begin on Tuesday. The lawsuit alleged the companies’ marketing of the painkiller was to blame for the opioid epidemic.

Johnson & Johnson had no immediate comment.

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Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-opioids-litigation-oklahoma/teva-pharm-to-pay-oklahoma-85-million-to-settle-opioid-claims-idUSKCN1SW0MS

[Cracklin Charlie]

1. How much to their victims?

Sounds like the state will get first crack at the assets.