Opioid Manufacturers Pay $1.2 Million to DC in Landmark Settlement
Washington D.C. – Eight major opioid drug manufacturers have agreed to pay the district of Columbia approximately $1.2 million as part of a nationwide settlement aimed at addressing the devastating opioid crisis. The agreement, announced today by attorney General Brian L. Schwalb, holds these companies accountable for their role in exacerbating the epidemic that continues to claim lives and fuel addiction in the nation’s capital.The settlement imposes important restrictions on the defendants, including prohibitions on promoting or marketing opioid products and limitations on the potency of oxycodone pills they can produce. Seven of the eight companies – Alvogen, Amneal, Apotex, Hikima, Mylan, Sun, and Zydus – are barred from promoting or marketing opioids and will be restricted from manufacturing or selling products containing more than 40 mg of oxycodone per pill. These companies are also mandated to reform their corporate practices.
Indivior, the eighth defendant, faces a more stringent penalty, prohibited from manufacturing or selling any opioid products for the next decade. Though, Indivior will still be permitted to market and sell medications designed to treat opioid use disorder.
“Tragically, hundreds of DC residents continue to lose their lives every year to opioid overdoses, and far too many members of our community struggle with opioid addiction,” stated Attorney General Schwalb. “This nationwide, bipartisan settlement holds companies accountable for putting profits over the health and wellbeing of DC residents and requires meaningful changes to their business practices so that this never happens again.”
The allocated funds for the District are distributed as follows:
Mylan: $602,600
hikma: $188,800
Amneal: $160,300
Apotex: $116,900
Indivior: $71,100
Sun: $56,900
Alvogen: $34,300
Zydus: $27,200
Collectively, these eight companies will contribute $720 million to states and territories across the United States. Beyond financial compensation, the settlements include provisions that allow states to receive free pharmaceutical products or cash equivalents. Furthermore, seven of the companies are prohibited from providing financial incentives to employees based on opioid sales volume, engaging in opioid-related lobbying, and must implement systems to monitor and report suspicious orders.
The opioid epidemic has had a profound impact on Washington D.C., with 1,740 individuals succumbing to opioid overdoses between 2021 and 2024. This settlement marks a significant step in the Office of the Attorney General’s ongoing efforts to combat the crisis, secure accountability, and provide relief to affected residents. To date, the OAG has secured nearly $104 million through settlements with various entities implicated in the opioid epidemic.
The District’s Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission, established in 2022, is tasked with developing recommendations for the strategic allocation of these settlement funds to effectively address the harm caused by the opioid crisis.
