DOVER Del.- Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced that pharmaceutical company Mylan, now part of Viatris, has agreed to pay up to $335 million as part of a multistate settlement addressing the ongoing opioid crisis.
Mylan, which has distributed opioids including fentanyl patches, oxycodone and hydrocodone since 2005, is accused of misleading marketing practices. The company allegedly promoted these drugs as having a lower potential for abuse—despite knowing they were highly susceptible to misuse, according to the settlement.
“Mylan’s business practices helped stoke the flames of the opioid crisis,” Jennings said in a statement. “These funds will help support Delaware’s efforts to abate this ongoing public health crisis.”
The settlement is part of a broader national legal strategy aimed at holding pharmaceutical companies accountable for their role in fueling opioid addiction. Under the terms of the agreement, the $335 million will be distributed to participating states over a nine-year period.
Delaware has consistently ranked among the states with the highest rates of opioid overdose deaths. This new funding is expected to provide a vital financial boost to the state’s efforts to curb addiction and save lives.