A group of companies dealing in making and distributing drugs in the United States reached on Wednesday a $26 billion settlement resolving claims of fueling a countrywide opioid epidemic.
According to state attorneys who announced the deal, drug distributors McKesson, AmerisourceBergen and Cardinal Health agreed to pay in total $21 billion, with Johnson & Johnson providing $5 billion more.
While the four companies denied accusations, the distributors were willing to pay out the amount over the next 18 years and Johnson & Johnson within the next nine years.
