Johnson & Johnson pays $230m to settle New York opioids case

The New York attorney general said on Saturday Johnson & Johnson had agreed to pay $230m to settle claims it helped fuel the opioid crisis.

The deal requires the pharmaceuticals giant to make a series of payments over nine years. The drugmaker also agreed to end manufacturing and distribution of opioids across New York and the rest of the US, the state attorney general, Letitia James, said.

The company “helped fuel this fire, but today they’re committing to leaving the opioid business – not only in New York, but across the entire country”, James said.

Johnson & Johnson said in a statement that the settlement “is not an admission of liability or wrongdoing by the company”.

It added that its actions “relating to the marketing and promotion of important prescription pain medications were appropriate and responsible”.

More follows…