The U.S. opioid epidemic has caused more than 500,000 overdose deaths over two decades, according to government data. More than 3,300 opioid lawsuits have been filed nationally against drug makers, distributors and pharmacy chains, leading to a recent wave of proposed settlements. A lawyer for two Ohio counties said CVS Health Corp (CVS.N), Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc (WBA.O) and Walmart Inc (WMT.N) should fund an $878 million plan to address the opioid crisis there, as a first-of-its-kind trial got underway to determine the pharmacy chains’ contribution. Read the full article here.
Sources: Reuters.com and smpresource.org