Attorney General Kathy Jennings has announced a multistate settlement in principle with pharmaceutical company Mylan Inc. This settlement could provide up to $335 million nationwide to address the opioid crisis.
Mylan, which is now part of Viatris, has been producing and selling various opioids since 2005, including generic fentanyl patches, oxycodone, hydrocodone, and buprenorphine products. The attorneys general accuse Mylan of misleading promotions, suggesting their products were less likely to be abused despite being aware that many, particularly the fentanyl patches, were susceptible to abuse. The marketing directed at doctors allegedly contributed to overprescribing and the illegal drug market.
“Mylan’s business practices helped stoke the flames of the opioid crisis,” Attorney General Jennings stated. “These funds will help support Delaware’s efforts to abate this ongoing public health crisis.”
Overdose fatalities in Delaware have ranked among the highest nationwide per capita. The settlement allows Mylan to pay up to $335 million over nine years to participating states.
Aside from Delaware, other states involved in the settlement include California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, and Virginia.