Attorney General Todd Rokita announced his 11th opioid settlement as Indiana’s Attorney General, securing approximately $720 million nationwide in settlements with eight drug makers that manufactured opioid pills, playing roles in worsening an opioid crisis that devastated communities in every state. Indiana expects to receive approximately $16.5 million.
“Thousands of Hoosiers have lost their lives as a result of the opioid crisis,” Attorney General Rokita said. “We can never undo that tragic loss of life, but we can hold accountable those responsible for contributing to the situations culminating in these deaths. That’s what these settlements are all about, and I’m proud of the work of our team.”
The eight defendants are Alvogen; Amneal; Apotex; Hikma; Indivior; Mylan (now part of Viatris); Sun; and Zydus.
The terms of the settlements vary. Some of the companies will remit payments to states annually over the course of years while others will pay their obligation in a single year.
Each of the settlements includes injunctive relief terms, namely:
- The companies are prohibited from engaging in the promotion of opioids or opioids products.
- The companies cannot provide financial rewards or impose discipline on employees based on the volume of opioids sold.
- The companies cannot manufacture, promote, or distribute any product containing more than 40 mg of oxycodone per pill and cannot in most circumstances offer discounts, coupons, or rebates for opioid products.
- Finally, the companies cannot provide funding or grants to third parties for the promotion of opioid products and cannot engage in any lobbying activity related to opioids.
Seven of the eight companies (not Indivior) are also subject to suspicious order monitoring requirements similar to other opioid manufacturer settlements. Indivior is not included because the company primarily manufactures opioid use disorder treatments, not opioids, and has agreed not to manufacture or sell any opioid products for the next 10 years.
This settlement brings Indiana to approximately $1.1 billion the total value of opioid settlements achieved since Attorney General Rokita took office in January of 2021.
