Johnson & Johnson and its U.S.-based Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies disclosed that the company will contribute up to an additional $1 billion to an all-in settlement amount that would resolve opioid lawsuits filed and future claims by states, cities, counties and tribal governments.
This amount represents an increase to the $4 billion agreement in principle announced by a committee of State Attorneys General last October, for a total of $5 billion. Additional terms and conditions are still being finalized.
According to J&J, this additional amount results from continued negotiations and is intended to maximize participation in the settlement. The settlement is not an admission of liability or wrongdoing, and the company will continue to defend against any litigation that the final agreement does not resolve.
More than 3,000 lawsuits have been filed nationally seeking to hold drug companies responsible for the U.S. opioid addiction epidemic.
Read the J&J statement