Skip to main content

Opioid MDL Approved; Purdue May Opt Global Settlement

Opioid MDL Approved; Purdue May Opt Global Settlement

Opioid MDL Approved; Purdue May Opt Global Settlement

Introduction

On December 5, 2017, a formal nod came in for the formation of Opioid MDL: 2804 by the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. To promote the just and efficient conduct of the litigation and for the convenience of the parties and witnesses, the panel announced centralization in the Northern District of Ohio. Plaintiffs include cities, counties, and states alleging that the manufacturers of prescription opioid medications overstated the benefits and downplayed the risks of the use of their opioids and aggressively marketed (directly and through key opinion leaders) these drugs to physicians; and the distributors failed to monitor, detect, investigate, refuse, and report suspicious orders of prescription opiates.

Judge Daniel Polster is appointed to oversee the litigation related to manufacturing, marketing, distribution and sales practices of prescription opioid drugs by drug makers and distributors.

More than a dozen states and about 100 counties and cities have already sued Purdue Pharma LLP and other opioid makers and drug distributors. News of a global settlement is indicated by Purdue that may resolve state investigations and cases.

With the recent MDL formation, it has been reported that the FDA issued the lowest number of warning letters to pharmaceutical companies caught lying about their products while on the other side the US Department of Justice launched a massive crackdown on opiate drug makers.

Apart from the lawsuits filed in the Opioid MDL, separate investigative subpoenas including demand letters and other requests have been served to eight companies by Texas and coalition of 40 other states. The manufacturers and distributors named are Endo Pharmaceuticals, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Teva Pharmaceuticals' Cephalon, Allergan and their related entities, Purdue Pharma, etc.

Comments

Restricted HTML

  • Allowed HTML tags: <a href hreflang> <em> <strong> <cite> <blockquote cite> <code> <ul type> <ol start type> <li> <dl> <dt> <dd> <h2 id> <h3 id> <h4 id> <h5 id> <h6 id>
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.
  • Web page addresses and email addresses turn into links automatically.

Latest News

Oregon to Get $66M in Sackler Opioid Settlement

Categories: Opioids

Oregon will gain $66 million as part of a nationwide settlement with the Sackler family and Purdue Pharma, the makers of OxyContin. The funds will be used to expand and…

Study Finds Toxic Metals in E-Cigs and U-Cigs Vapors

Categories: E-Cigarette: JUUL

As health concerns about e-cigarette use escalate, emerging research suggests that a newer class of vaping products—ultrasonic cigarettes or u-cigarettes—may pose even greater risks.

A study published in Environmental Health Perspectives in…

Appeals Court Upholds $611M Roundup Verdict

Categories: Roundup

A Missouri appeals court has upheld a massive Roundup verdict originally totaling $1.5 billion, but significantly reduced the final amount Bayer and its Monsanto unit must pay to $611 million.

The case involved three plaintiffs from New…

✍️ FREE—3000 Pages Medical Record Review Trial!                
No Contract. No Risk—Fully Customized, Free!

Only 10 Firms Accepted—Offer Ends June 30!