Washington has reached a $518 million settlement with drug distributors McKesson Corp., AmerisourceBergen Corp., and Cardinal Health, ending a months-long trial over the companies’ alleged role in fueling the opioid epidemic in the state, the three companies announced on Tuesday.
McKesson will pay $197 million, while AmerisourceBergen and Cardinal will each pay $160.5 million.
Washington opted out of a $26 billion nationwide opioid settlement involving the three drug distributors and Johnson & Johnson (J&J). It would have received up to $417.9 million from McKesson, Cardinal Health, and AmerisourceBergen under that settlement, which was finalized in February.
The settlement is one of the largest in Washington State history, Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson said in a press release.
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