Reckitt facing opioid legal action

RECKITT Benckiser admitted it could still face legal action over the Indivior scandal and a fine ‘substantially higher’ than the £300m it has set aside.

The consumer goods giant has been rocked by claims its former drugs business, spun off five years ago, made billions of pounds after fraudulently marketing an opioid addiction treatment.

Current Reckitt chief Rakesh Kapoor, who is due to leave by the end of this year, and predecessor Bart Becht are both accused of making false claims, which they deny, about the safety of the treatment Suboxone.

As it posted lacklustre first-quarter sales, Reckitt said it was still in discussions with US authorities over the matter.

The company, which makes Strepsils throat drops and the medicine Mucinex, blamed a weak cold and flu season for like-for-like sales growth of just 1pc, behind predictions of 1.8pc.

Overall sales were £3.16bn. Reckitt stood by its annual forecast of up to 4pc likefor-like sales growth.