Indivior, the manufacturer of Suboxone, has taken a significant step towards closing the chapter on years of antitrust litigation related to its opioid addiction treatment with a substantial $385 million settlement.
The company has agreed to disburse this sum to resolve prolonged claims from a group of direct purchasers, as revealed in Indivior’s announcement on Monday. Pending approval by the US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the case is expected to conclude next month, according to the company’s statement.
“The resolution of this litigation, which was filed over a decade ago, provides greater certainty for all Indivior stakeholders and allows us to continue focusing on our important work for patients suffering from opioid use disorder and mental health illnesses around the world.”
– Mark Crossley, CEO
This settlement follows two prior agreements reached by Indivior. In June, the company committed to a $102.5 million settlement in response to a 2016 lawsuit filed by 41 states and Washington, D.C. The states alleged that Indivior’s transition from a tablet to an oral film version of Suboxone was orchestrated to extend the medication’s market monopoly.
In August, Indivior further resolved to pay $30 million to settle with health plans that asserted similar claims. Suboxone, a medication designed to combat opioid addiction, has been a focal point of litigation for an extended period.
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In 2021, Indivior disbursed $300 million as part of a formal agreement with all 50 states and the District of Columbia. This settlement was intended to address allegations of the drug being “falsely and aggressively” promoted, leading to the misuse of state Medicaid funds. Lawsuits claimed that Indivior marketed Suboxone to physicians without a legitimate medical basis for prescriptions.
This case followed a $600 million agreement in 2020, where former CEO Shaun Thaxter pleaded guilty for his involvement in a scheme to secure Medicaid formulary coverage in Massachusetts. The settlement funds from this case are to be disbursed over the next seven years.
In more positive developments for Indivior, its overdose reversal spray, Opvee, obtained approval in May, marking a brighter milestone for the company.
