The Mississippi Attorney General’s Office announced Thursday that the state will receive nearly $6.5 million as part of a $720 million nationwide settlement with eight drug makers.
Mississippi will receive $6,351,265 after the pharmaceutical companies were sued for playing a part in worsening the U.S. opioid crisis.
“The opioid has claimed far too many lives in Mississippi, leaving behind last pain,” Attorney General Lynn Fitch said in the announcement. “But together, we can confront the damage already done and work to present more senseless deaths. This settlement marks an important step forward, holding those involved in the opioid crisis accountable and helping us begin the healing process for our families and communities.”
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As part of the larger settlement, the eight defendants and the total amount they will pay as part of the deal are:
- Mylan (now part of Viatris): $284,447,916 paid over nine years
- Hikma: $95,818,293 paid over one to four years
- Amneal: $71,751,010 paid over 10 years
- Apotex: $63,682,369 paid in a single year
- Indivior: $38,022,450 paid over four years
- Sun: $30,992,087 paid over one to four years
- Alvogen: $18,680,162 paid in a single year
- Zydus: $14,859,220 paid in a single year
In addition to the financial payout, all of the companies expect for Indivior, are prohibited from promoting or marketing opioids and opioid products, making or selling any product that contains more than 40 milligrams of oxycodone per pill, and are required to put in place a monitoring and reporting system for suspicious. Indivior agreed to cease manufacturing and selling opioids for the next 10 years.
The Mississippi Attorney General’s Office was the first state in the U.S. to file suit against opioid manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, retail pharmacies, and marketers.
The payouts go directly into the Opioid Settlement Fund created by the state legislature in 2024.
