Maryland to Receive Over $13 Million from Opioid Manufacturer Settlements

Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced a significant development in the ongoing fight against the opioid crisis, revealing that the state is poised to receive over $13 million in settlements from seven major opioid drug manufacturers. The settlements, which have been finalized and entered into court records, are intended to fund crucial efforts aimed at combating addiction and supporting recovery within Maryland communities. These funds will also contribute to the state’s subdivisions in their continued work to address the pervasive impact of the opioid epidemic.

The seven companies involved in these settlements are Alvogen, Amneal, Apotex, Hikma, Mylan, Sun, and Zydus. According to the Attorney General’s office, these manufacturers were involved in the production and sale of generic opioid medications, including widely prescribed drugs like oxycodone, hydrocodone, and fentanyl patches. The state had previously alleged that the practices of these companies in manufacturing, selling, and marketing their opioid products led to substantial diversion of these dangerous substances, thereby exacerbating the nationwide opioid crisis. The consent judgments detailing Maryland’s agreements with these manufacturers have been officially recorded in the Circuit Court for Frederick County.

The financial contributions from these settlements are distributed across the named companies, with varying amounts allocated to Maryland. Mylan is slated to contribute the largest sum, with a total of $5,982,176 to be paid over a ten-year period. Amneal will also contribute significantly over a decade, with a total of $2,450,965. Other manufacturers will provide their allocated funds within a single year. These include Hikma, contributing $2,065,728; Apotex, with $1,370,968; Sun, providing $667,204; Alvogen, paying $402,150; and Zydus, contributing $317,892. These payments will be directed towards abatement efforts across the state.

Beyond the direct financial payouts, these settlements impose strict new operational requirements on the involved manufacturers regarding their opioid-related business. A key provision in each agreement prohibits the companies from promoting or marketing opioid products directly to healthcare providers or patients. Furthermore, these manufacturers are now barred from producing, promoting, or distributing any oxycodone pill with a dosage strength exceeding 40 milligrams. Measures are also being implemented to ensure that sales staff compensation or disciplinary actions are not linked to the volume of opioid sales. To enhance oversight and prevent further diversion, each company is now required to establish and maintain an ongoing system for monitoring and reporting any suspicious orders of their opioid products. These injunctive terms are designed to prevent future harm and hold the companies accountable for their past actions.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the Maryland Attorney General’s Office.

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