Teva Pharmaceuticals has agreed to pay $85 million to resolve Oklahoma's claims that the company helped fuel the opioid epidemic with deceptive marketing practices.
The settlement, reached May 26 with Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter, came just two days before the Teva and Johnson & Johnson were scheduled to go to trial.
Mr. Hunter had accused three opioid manufacturers — Purdue Pharma, Johnson & Johnson and Teva — of misleading physicians and patients about the risks associated with the painkillers, which played a significant role in the nationwide epidemic.
Teva is the second company to settle a lawsuit with Oklahoma over the opioid epidemic before the trial. In March, OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma paid $270 million to resolve claims with the state.
Teva said the agreement "does not establish any wrongdoing on the part of the company" and maintains it "has not contributed to the abuse of opioids in Oklahoma in any way."
J&J will head to court May 28.