Four companies reach $260M opioid settlement with Ohio counties

Four large drug companies reportedly reached a $260 million legal settlement over their role in the U.S. opioid addiction epidemic, striking a deal with two Ohio counties just before the first trial concerning the opioid crisis was set to begin Monday.

Drug distributors AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and McKesson will contribute $215 million toward the settlement, according to Hunter Shkolnik, an attorney for the counties.

Teva is paying $20 million in cash and will contribute $25 million worth of Suboxone, an opioid addiction treatment, according to Shkolnik.

The deal settles claims brought by Ohio’s Cuyahoga and Summit counties, which had accused the companies of fueling a nationwide opioid crisis. Some 400,000 U.S. overdose deaths between 1997 and 2017 were linked to opioids, according to government data.

According to the report, a new trial date for the remaining defendant. Walgreens Boots Alliance has not been determined.

WBA said in a statement to CNBC on Monday that it only sold opioids to fill a valid prescription written by a licensed physician. It said it was diligent to prevent the diversion of controlled substances.