TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Stacey Shrader Joslin on Jul 27, 2022

Tennessee Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III last week announced that opioids maker Teva has reached an agreement in principle to settle a lawsuit brought by states and local governments for $4.25 billion. Teva, an Israel-based drug manufacturer, makes Actiq and Fentora, which are branded fentanyl products for cancer pain, as well as a number of generic opioids including oxycodone. The suit alleged that the company deceptively marketed opioids by downplaying the risk of addiction and overstating their benefits, including encouraging the idea that signs of addiction should be treated by prescribing more opioids. In announcing the deal, Slatery said, “This settlement is another major step in holding opioid manufacturers accountable and we expect these funds to make a significant difference in treating opioid addiction disorder in Tennessee and across the country.”