Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings has announced a multistate settlement in principle with Amneal Pharmaceuticals regarding its involvement in the opioid crisis. Amneal, a major producer of generic opioid products from 2006 to 2019, allegedly failed to monitor and report suspicious orders as required by federal law. This accusation is part of a broader claim by Jennings and a coalition of attorneys general.
"There must be an answer when companies like Amneal allow the value of profit to eclipse that of human life—this settlement is part of that answer," stated Attorney General Kathy Jennings. "While no amount of money can undo the harm that has been done, we will continue to hold pharmaceutical companies accountable for their role in the opioid crisis, both nationally and here in Delaware. We have lost too many to this deadly epidemic, and we will stand for it no more."
The proposed settlement includes $92.5 million in cash over ten years and $180 million worth of naloxone nasal spray, an overdose treatment medication, distributed among participating states. The negotiation involved attorneys general from New York, California, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, and Delaware.
Attorney General Jennings has previously secured settlements expected to bring nearly a quarter billion dollars to combat the opioid crisis in Delaware. The state's share from this settlement will go into the Prescription Opioid Settlement Distribution Fund. An independent commission will oversee fund distribution based on bipartisan legislation supported by AG Jennings. Spending focuses on services aimed at reducing or mitigating opioid-related harms.