A $26 billion settlement between four pharmaceutical companies and US states and local governments may be imminent. That amount serves as compensation for the role the companies are playing in the opioid epidemic. It is estimated that 500,000 Americans have died from addiction to heavy painkillers since the 1990s.
42 states support the settlement proposal of drug distributors AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and McKesson and drug manufacturer Johnson & Johnson. States had until yesterday to say whether they support the proposal. Local authorities have until January 2 to agree or not. With the settlement, the companies want to buy off the 3000 civil lawsuits that have been filed in one go.
Pharmaceutical company Purdue Pharma, the maker of the highly addictive OxyContin (active ingredient: oxycodone), already did something similar. Last week The judge approved Purdue’s $10 billion settlement proposal. Part of the deal was that the company will be dissolved, but also that no more civil proceedings can be brought against the owners.
Dangers concealed
Since the 1990s, the use of painkillers such as oxycodone, hydrocodone and fentanyl has exploded. The number of prescriptions for so-called opioids has quadrupled in 25 years.
Pharmaceuticals and distributors played a bad role in this. The dangers of the painkillers were downplayed. According to the manufacturers, the drugs were actually less addictive and had fewer side effects than, for example, morphine. The painkillers were marketed with aggressive marketing techniques.
According to the four companies, they are not to blame for the opioid epidemic. They point out that the drugs have been approved by the US drug authority FDA. Doctors and supervisors are responsible for so many prescriptions being written, is their defense.
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