Maker of anti-addiction drug Suboxone reaches $102.5 million settlement over antitrust claims

PHILADELPHIA, PA (AP) - The company that produces the opioid addiction treatment Suboxone agreed to pay $102,5 million to 41 States and the District of Columbia in order to settle allegations that it engaged in anticompetitive business practices.

A trial scheduled for later this year has been avoided by the agreement reached with Indivior in North Chesterfield.

States led by Wisconsin claimed that the company - formerly a subsidiary Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals - made minor changes to Suboxone in order to extend the patent protection and prevent generic versions of this drug from being sold.

Suboxone, a brand name for buprenorphine naloxone, is an opioid medication. This case is different from the claims made by governments against opioid manufacturers, alleging that they contributed to or deepened a national overdose crisis. Settlements have totaled more than $50 billion.

Indivior must notify the state governments when it modifies its product or changes corporate control.

In a press release, the company stated that it will be able to concentrate on its mission once the lawsuit is settled.

Reckitt Benckiser has agreed to pay $1.4 billion in 2019 to the federal government to settle potential criminal and civil liabilities involving its Suboxone businesses.

Attorneys general from the following states are also involved in this settlement: Alabama, Alaska 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 West Virginia