Henry Schein to Pay $1.25 Million on Opioid Lawsuit

Melville-based Henry Schein will pay $1.25 million to one of the two Ohio counties that had sued several drug companies over the opioid crisis.

Four other companies have agreed to pay a total $260 million to Cuyahoga and Summit counties, shortly before the trial was to begin, The Washington Post said. The case against a fifth defendant, Walgreen’s, has been postponed. 

“The opioid crisis is a terrible national tragedy, and all segments of society need to come together to address the crisis,” said Stanley M. Bergman, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Henry Schein, Inc. “We look forward to playing a constructive role in helping to advance solutions that put an end to opioid addiction.”

Henry Schein said it would work with Summit County for a $1 million donation to a Pain Management Education Foundation dedicated to making grants supporting and aggregating research around best practices for pain management, including the prescription of opioids and alternatives, and educating dentists and physicians, clinical associates, patients, and patient networks on those best practices along with the risks of opioid addiction and alternative pain management treatment options for key indications.

Henry Schein will also pay $250,000 of Summit County’s expenses.

The Wall Street Journal said that three U.S. companies, McKesson Corp., Cardinal Health Inc. and AmerisourceBergen Corp., and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., an Israeli manufacturer of pain medication, had reached the settlement an hour before the trial was to begin.

 

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