Alabama reaches $276 million opioid settlement with J&J, McKesson, Endo -attorney general

By Dietrich Knauth

Reuters Alabama on Tuesday reached 276 million in settlements with Johnson & Johnson, McKesson Corp and Endo International Plc, resolving claims that the companies fueled an opioid addiction crisis, the state attorney general said.

Under the settlement, drug distributor McKesson will pay 141 million to the state, while drugmakers Johnson & Johnson and Endo will pay 70.3 million and 25 million, respectively, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said in a statement.

Alabama was one of four states that declined to join a nationwide 26 billion settlement of opioid litigation by McKesson, two other top U.S. distributors and J&J that was finalized in February.

“These three settlement agreements affirm my decision to decline participation in the national opioid settlements, which did not adequately acknowledge the unique harm that Alabamians have endured,” Marshall said in a statement.