Walgreens reaches $683 mln opioid settlement with Florida (updated)

Endo International

05/05/2022 14:17

(Adds background)
    By Dietrich Knauth
    May 5 (Reuters) - Walgreens Boots Alliance  WBA.O  said on
Thursday it has reached a $683 million settlement with Florida
to resolve claims that the pharmacy chain exacerbated an opioid
epidemic in the state.
    The settlement includes $620 million to be paid to Florida
over 18 years, plus $63 million for legal fees.
    It ends a trial that began on April 11, after Walgreens
decided not to join a combined $878 million settlement with four
other healthcare companies.
    Walgreens did not admit to wrongdoing as part of the
settlement.
    The nationwide opioid crisis has led to more than 500,000
overdose deaths in the last two decades, according to the U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 
    More than 3,300 lawsuits have been filed against drugmakers,
distributors and pharmacies over the crisis, including claims
they played down the risks of addiction and overdoses, and were
lax is monitoring where pills ended up.

 (Reporting by Dietrich Knauth; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
 ((Dietrich.Knauth@thomsonreuters.com;))