Subuxone Manufacturer To Pay $102.5M Over Antitrust Claims

Subuxone Manufacturer To Pay $102.5M Over Antitrust Claims

Introduction

Opioid addiction treatment drug Suboxone's manufacturer has agreed to pay $102.5 million to the District of Columbia, 41 states, and other jurisdictions in order to resolve allegations that it used unfair business practices.

The settlement with North Chesterfield, Virginia-based Indivior prevents a trial that was set to begin later this year. States, led by Wisconsin, said that the business, which was formerly a division of Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals, modified Suboxone just slightly so order to prolong its patent protection and prevent the release of generic copies of the medication.

A marketed version of buprenorphine with naloxone is called Suboxone. The lawsuit is separate from accusations made by governments against other opioid manufacturers that they contributed to or exacerbated a national overdose problem. Settlements resulting from those have so far cost more than $50 billion.

Indivior is required under the agreement to inform the states of any changes to its products or corporate control. In a statement, the business said that by resolving the litigation, it will be able to concentrate on its goals.

2019 saw Reckitt Benckiser reach an agreement to pay the federal government $1.4 billion in order to settle any possible legal issues relating to its Suboxone business.

Attorneys general from the following states, in addition to Wisconsin, are represented in the settlement: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia.

In 2016, the producers of Suboxone were accused of unlawful trade restriction and conspiracy to monopolize by the former attorney general of Maryland and 35 other attorneys general.

Suboxone prevents withdrawal symptoms and lowers cravings by binding to opioid receptors in the brain.