AG Wilson Applauds $1.6 Billion Global Settlement with Opioid Manufacturer

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) –  Feb. 26, 2020 - Attorney General Alan Wilson today announced a global settlement framework agreement between state attorneys general, local subdivisions, and Mallinckrodt (MNK), its subsidiaries, and certain other affiliates. MNK is currently the largest generic opioid manufacturer in the United States. In the agreement, MNK agrees to pay $1.6 billion in cash to a trust that will cover the costs of opioid addiction treatment and related efforts, with the potential for increased payment to the trust. MNK also agrees that its future generics opioid business will be subject to stringent injunctive relief that, among other things, will prevent marketing and ensure systems are in place to prevent diversion.

Details about how the money will be distributed, including how much the State of South Carolina will receive, and how the settlement trust will be administered are still being negotiated.

“This agreement with MNK is just one example of another phase of my Office’s proactive involvement in the fight against the opioid epidemic,” said Attorney General Wilson. “My focus is on both accountability and obtaining the resources we need to get victims of this epidemic the help they deserve. This agreement is a significant step toward a solution to this overwhelming crisis, and my office will continue to do everything it can to protect South Carolinians from this life-destroying crisis.”

Attorney General Wilson has also initiated lawsuits against Purdue Pharma for the misleading marketing and sale of opioids, as well as McKesson, Cardinal Health and AmerisourceBergen for their role in the distribution of opioids.

Opioids are a family of drugs including prescription painkillers and illegal drugs like heroin. Nationwide, prescription and illegal opioids are the main cause of drug overdose deaths. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, opioids were involved in more than 47,600 overdose deaths in 2017. From 1999 to 2017, more than 702,000 people have died from a drug overdose.