Florida reaches $878 million opioid settlements with CVS, Teva and others

Florida has reached more than $878 million in settlements with CVS Health Corp and three drug companies to resolve claims and avert a trial next month over their roles in fuelling an opioid epidemic in the third most populous US state.

CVS will pay $484 million, Teva Pharma will pay $194.8 million, Abbvie Inc’s Allergan unit will pay $134.2 million and Endo International Plc will pay $65 million, Ashley Moody, Attorney General, Florida, said in a statement recently.

Most of the money will be spent on opioid abatement. Teva will also provide $84 million of its generic Narcan nasal spray, which can temporarily reverse the effects of opioid overdoses.

The four companies denied wrongdoing in agreeing to settle. Endo’s accord had been reached in January.

West Virginia reached a similar $26 million settlement with Endo, attorney general Patrick Morissey said in a press conference.

After the settlements, Florida and West Virginia will both begin pared-back opioid trials next week. West Virginia will proceed to trial on 4th April against Johnson & Johnson, Teva and Allergen. Florida will proceed to trial against pharmacy chain Walgreens, with jury selection scheduled to begin on 5th April.

Walgreens said its 2012 opioid-related settlement with Florida covered the state’s latest claims, and that it will defend against “unjustified attacks” on its pharmacists.

CVS and Teva said they would defend against other opioid lawsuits, and Teva said it is “actively” negotiating a national settlement of similar claims. Allergan said its settlement also covers claims for generic opioids it sold to Teva in 2016.

Endo did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Florida announced the settlements nine days after Rhode Island reached similar accords with Teva and Allergan valued at $107 million.

Edits by EP News Bureau