In a decisive move to combat the opioid crisis, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell secured roughly $720 million in settlements from various pharmaceutical companies accused of fueling the epidemic. The legal victory, announced today, involves eight different drug makers and is part of a nationwide collaborative effort by attorneys general, according to an official release from the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office (AGO).
Massachusetts itself is poised to receive an estimated $17 million through these settlements, with AG Campbell reportedly hailing the funds as a pivotal step forward. "While nothing can compensate for the lives lost and upended by the ongoing opioid crisis, I am grateful to secure these funds on behalf of Massachusetts residents who have been devastated by the crisis – funds that will meaningfully support opioid prevention, harm reduction, recovery, and more," Campbell said in a statement obtained by the AGO's newsroom. The settlements also prompt a sign-on period for local governments, further uniting efforts to provide restitution and facilitate healing.
The settlements are spread across companies like Mylan, now part of Viatris, and Hikma, with Massachusetts expecting to receive various amounts over differing payment schedules. Mylan is set to pay the highest total at nearly $284.5 million over nine years, contributing up to $6.7 million to Massachusetts's share. Other notable payments include $71.8 million from Amneal over ten years and a single-year payment from Apotex totaling over $63.6 million, elucidates the AGO's announcement.
Under the terms of the settlement, these companies, with the lone exception of Indivior, are barred from promoting opioids and are required to install strict monitoring systems to flag suspicious orders. Indivior, despite its prohibition from manufacturing or selling opioid products for a decade, retains the right to market treatments for opioid use disorder. This legal reckoning follows on the heels of AG Campbell's involvement in a massive $7.4 billion settlement with Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family, bringing an additional $105 million to the state of Massachusetts. The cumulative recoveries from opioid-related settlements now surpass $1 billion for the state, with over $340 million received to date, as detailed in the AGO's press statement.
Funds procured from these settlements are designated to bolster the Commonwealth’s Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund, also trickling down to cities and towns across Massachusetts. The money is earmarked to amplify efforts in prevention, treatment, and recovery, offering a beacon of hope in addressing the opioid catastrophe that has relentlessly torn through communities for years.
