A pharmaceutical company has agreed in principle to pay hundreds of millions of dollars which officials say will help combat the opioid crisis across the nation.
Under the tentative settlement, Mylan Inc. — which is now a part of Viatris — would deliver up to $335 million to participating states over nine years, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced Monday.
Mylan has manufactured and sold a variety of opioids since 2005, including fentanyl patches, oxycodone, hydrocodone, and buprenorphine products.
“The attorneys general allege Mylan deceptively promoted its products as less prone to abuse despite knowing for years that many of its opioid products — particularly its fentanyl patches — were actually more vulnerable to abuse,” the California Department of Justice stated in its news release Monday.
Officials alleged Mylan drove the opioid crisis by marketing directly to doctors, which led to the diversion of opioids into the illegal drug market.
“Companies and individuals who fueled the opioid crisis must be held accountable. With today’s announcement, the California Department of Justice is continuing to deliver results,” Bonta said.
The tentative settlement was negotiated by the attorneys general of California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah and Virginia in coordination with those of Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa and Vermont, the news release stated.