The State of Alabama will receive $276 million dollars in a settlements with drug companies Endo, McKesson Corporation, and Johnson & Johnson. The agreement ends the state’s claims that the three pharmaceutical companies helped fuel an opioid addiction crisis here. McKesson will reportedly pay the largest amount at $141 million dollars. Endo’s share in the settlement comes to $25 million, and Johnson & Johnson will pay just over $70 million. The Alabama Attorney General’s office says the three companies will also pay $40 million in attorney’s fees.
This isn’t the end of legal issues for Endo Pharmaceuticals. The company has also agreed to a $10 million in a settlement in San Francisco. Years after thousands of local and state governments sued pharmaceutical companies, drug distributors and pharmacies, trials are underway across the country. Settlements are being reached quickly. Endo has been especially willing to settle cases ahead of trials across the U.S.
Editor's note— Our original story had Endo's settlement at $70 million and J & J's at $25. APR regrets the error.