4 drug companies agree to pay $26 bn to resolve opioid suits

A group of state attorneys general unveiled on Wednesday a landmark $26-billion settlement with large drug companies for allegedly fueling the deadly nationwide opioid epidemic, but the deal still requires support from thousands of local governments. Under the settlement proposal, the three largest US drug distributors — Mckesson Corp, Cardinal Health and Amerisourcebergen — are expected to pay a combined $21 billion, while drugmaker Johnson & Johnson would pay $5 billion.