Ohio in Talks to Settle Opioid Suit, State Attorney General Says
January 11 2018 - 2:52PM
Dow Jones News
By Jeanne Whalen and Sara Randazzo
Ohio's attorney general said the state has begun settlement
talks with two opioid-painkiller makers -- Johnson & Johnson
and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. -- concerning the state's
lawsuit alleging illegal marketing of the drugs.
Attorney General Mike DeWine said his staff held separate
meetings with the companies Wednesday. He described the meetings as
"settlement discussions."
"That's my description of it," he said in a phone interview.
"They may refer to it just as discussions." The companies didn't
immediately respond to requests for comment.
"We outlined with them where we feel Ohio needs help -- in
prevention, education and treatment, as well as the huge problem
we're having with our foster-care system because so many of the
parents are addicted," Mr. DeWine said.
Ohio was one of the first states to sue opioid-painkiller
makers, alleging they fueled the opioid-addiction crisis by
misrepresenting the benefits and addictive risks of their
painkillers.
The companies have denied the allegations and said they are
committed to the safe and medically appropriate use of the
drugs.
Mr. DeWine said Ohio also is hoping to begin settlement talks
with two other defendants in its suit -- Allergan PLC and Endo
International PLC -- but hasn't yet scheduled meetings. Allergan
and Endo couldn't immediately be reached to comment.
"The one company that has made it abundantly clear they are not
willing to meet with us is Purdue Pharma. I think that's a shame,"
Mr. DeWine said. Purdue couldn't immediately be reached to
comment.
About a dozen states and many more counties and cities have
filed lawsuits similar to Ohio's, against various opioid painkiller
makers and distributors. A separate bipartisan group of state
attorneys general is conducting a joint investigation into
painkiller marketing and the cause of the addiction crisis.
Purdue late last year said it was working on an "expedited
basis" with this bipartisan group, and urged Ohio to join those
discussions.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
January 11, 2018 14:37 ET (19:37 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2018 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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