The U.S. Department of Justice announced Indivior agreed to pay $102.5 million in a settlement with 41 states and the District of Columbia.
Indivior, the manufacturer of Suboxone, reached the settlement to resolve allegations of anticompetitive practices linked to the opioid addiction treatment drug, according to a June 2 AP News report. The states accused Indivior of making minor modifications to Suboxone to extend patent protection and impede the entry of generic alternatives into the market.
"Opioid addiction treatments should be accessible to everyone — especially our most vulnerable populations that need them for their recovery. With today's settlement, we're holding Indivior accountable and ensuring it doesn't engage in similar anticompetitive conduct in the future," Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a June 2 news release.
This settlement avoids a scheduled trial for the company. Additionally, Reckitt Benckiser, the former parent company of Indivior, has agreed to pay $1.4 billion to the federal government in a separate settlement concerning Suboxone, AP News reported. These agreements mark significant progress in addressing the complex issues associated with the opioid crisis and promoting fair competition within the pharmaceutical industry.
Apart from Wisconsin, who led the charge, the attorneys general from Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia were involved in the settlement, AP News release.
As part of the settlement, Indivior has agreed to promptly notify the states when making modifications to its products or experiencing changes in corporate control, according to the AP News report. The company said resolving the lawsuit will enable it to refocus on its mission.
