- Multistate groups of AGs reached two settlements related to claims involving the U.S. opioid epidemic.
- Publicis Health, LLC settled with a coalition consisting of all AGs from every state, territory, and the District of Columbia to resolve allegations that the advertising agency designed and deployed unfair and deceptive marketing schemes in order to help Purdue Pharma sell more OxyContin, fueling the epidemic. The settlement includes a payment of $350 million to be split amongst settling states, as well as injunctive relief prohibiting Publicis from marketing opioid products and a requirement that Publicis allow public access to documents related to its marketing of opioids.
- Separately, a bipartisan group of 13 AGs settled with Hikma Pharmaceuticals to resolve allegations that the manufacturer of generic opioid products failed to monitor and report suspicious opioid orders from potentially illegal distributors. Hikma will pay $150 million to participating states under the settlement.
- We have covered other AG actions related to the opioid epidemic, including AG settlements with Walgreens and CVS totaling $10.7 billion in December 2022.