CVS will Pay $484 Million to Settle Opioid-Related Claims in Florida

CVS Health Corp. will pay $484 million to resolve opioid-related claims in Florida. This was the first time the pharmacy chain had agreed to settle a state lawsuit related to opioid prescription abuse.  

CVS was one of several defendants in a trial scheduled to start in April. Tava Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. and Allagan PLC have also reached a settlement with the Florida Attorney General.

Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. has not agreed to a settlement and is preparing for a jury trial scheduled to begin on April 5 in New Port Richey, Florida. Walgreens said in a statement that the 2012 settlement covered the latest allegations and the allegations were unfounded.

Tava has agreed to pay $177 million to Florida over 15 years and provide generic or naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray, valued at $84 million over 10 years. Meanwhile, the states said that Allergan will pay $134 million.

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody has sued CVS, Walgreen, and several pharmaceutical companies to boost the supply and demand for opioids and “created illegitimate demand for dangerous opioids while unlawfully increasing the supply of opioids to meet that demand.”