Vaccine Maker Johnson & Johnson Settles Huge Lawsuit Over Role in Opioid Crisis

The Johnson & Johnson logo is displayed on a screen on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S. on May 29, 2019. Brendan McDermid/Reuters

Pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson on Friday agreed to a $26 billion settlement to thousands of claims by local and state governments of the alleged role that it and several others played in the U.S. opioid crisis.

Distributors McKesson Corp, AmerisourceBergen Corp, and Cardinal Health Inc. joined in on the settlement, agreeing to pay $21 billion over 18 years. Johnson & Johnson said it would pay $5 billion over nine years.