Teva Reaches Agreement With West Virginia to Settle the State’s Opioid-Related Claims

Rhea-AI Summary

Teva Pharmaceuticals has settled opioid-related claims with the Attorney General of West Virginia, agreeing to pay $75 million over 15 years and provide $27 million in the generic version of Narcan over 10 years. The settlement also includes $8 million for attorney fees. While this settlement advances efforts to address opioid addiction, it is not an admission of liability. Teva is negotiating a national settlement to further address ongoing litigation.

Positive

• Settlement with West Virginia provides $75 million over 15 years, enhancing Teva's efforts in opioid crisis response.
• Inclusion of $27 million worth of Narcan over 10 years supports public health initiatives.

Negative

• The settlement may indicate ongoing legal challenges and scrutiny surrounding opioid-related claims.
• Financial liabilities from settlements could impact future cash flow and operational flexibility.

TEL AVIV, Israel & PARSIPPANY, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Teva Pharmaceuticals, a U.S. affiliate of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE and TASE: TEVA) and its affiliates, has reached an agreement with the Attorney General of West Virginia that settles the state’s and its subdivisions opioid-related claims. The settlement will provide West Virginia with $75 million over 15 years in addition to $8 million in attorneys’ fees and costs incurred during the trial. Teva will also provide its life-saving medicine, the generic version of Narcan^® (naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray), valued at $27 million (wholesale acquisition cost), over 10 years. The settlement structure is consistent with previously announced settlements.

Today’s settlement with the state of West Virginia is another critical step forward in getting life-saving treatments to people suffering from addiction to opioids. This settlement agreement is not an admission of any liability or wrongdoing, and the Company continues to actively negotiate a national settlement.

About Teva

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE and TASE: TEVA) has been developing and producing medicines to improve people’s lives for more than a century. We are a global leader in generic and specialty medicines with a portfolio consisting of over 3,500 products in nearly every therapeutic area. Around 200 million people around the world take a Teva medicine every day, and are served by one of the largest and most complex supply chains in the pharmaceutical industry. Along with our established presence in generics, we have significant innovative research and operations supporting our growing portfolio of specialty and biopharmaceutical products. Learn more at www.tevapharm.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are based on management’s current beliefs and expectations and are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown, that could cause our future results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from that expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include risks relating to:

• our ability to finalize the settlement with West Virginia;
• increased legal and regulatory action in connection with public concern over the abuse of opioid medications and our ability to reach a final resolution of the remaining opioid-related litigation;
• our ability to successfully compete in the marketplace, including: that we are substantially dependent on our generic products; consolidation of our customer base and commercial alliances among our customers; delays in launches of new generic products; the increase in the number of competitors targeting generic opportunities and seeking U.S. market exclusivity for generic versions of significant products; our ability to develop and commercialize biopharmaceutical products; competition for our specialty products, including AUSTEDO®, AJOVY® and COPAXONE®; our ability to achieve expected results from investments in our product pipeline; our ability to develop and commercialize additional pharmaceutical products; and the effectiveness of our patents and other measures to protect our intellectual property rights;
• our substantial indebtedness, which may limit our ability to incur additional indebtedness, engage in additional transactions or make new investments, may result in a further downgrade of our credit ratings; and our inability to raise debt or borrow funds in amounts or on terms that are favorable to us;
• our business and operations in general, including: uncertainty regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and the governmental and societal responses thereto; our ability to successfully execute and maintain the activities and efforts related to the measures we have taken or may take in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated costs therewith; effectiveness of our optimization efforts; our ability to attract, hire and retain highly skilled personnel; manufacturing or quality control problems; interruptions in our supply chain; disruptions of information technology systems; breaches of our data security; variations in intellectual property laws; challenges associated with conducting business globally, including political or economic instability, major hostilities or terrorism; costs and delays resulting from the extensive pharmaceutical regulation to which we are subject or delays in governmental processing time due to travel and work restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic;
• the effects of reforms in healthcare regulation and reductions in pharmaceutical pricing, reimbursement and coverage; significant sales to a limited number of customers; our ability to successfully bid for suitable acquisition targets or licensing opportunities, or to consummate and integrate acquisitions; and our prospects and opportunities for growth if we sell assets;
• compliance, regulatory and litigation matters, including: failure to comply with complex legal and regulatory environments; scrutiny from competition and pricing authorities around the world, including our ability to successfully defend against the U.S. Department of Justice criminal charges of Sherman Act violations; potential liability for patent infringement; product liability claims; failure to comply with complex Medicare and Medicaid reporting and payment obligations; compliance with anti-corruption sanctions and trade control laws; environmental risks; and the impact of ESG issues;
• other financial and economic risks, including: our exposure to currency fluctuations and restrictions as well as credit risks; potential impairments of our intangible assets; potential significant increases in tax liabilities (including as a result of potential tax reform in the United States); and the effect on our overall effective tax rate of the termination or expiration of governmental programs or tax benefits, or of a change in our business;

and other factors discussed in this press release, in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the first quarter of 2022 and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, including in the sections captioned "Risk Factors” and “Forward Looking Statements.” Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or other information contained herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are cautioned not to put undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220523006055/en/

IR Contacts

United States

Ran Meir

(267) 468-4475

Israel

Yael Ashman

972 (3) 914-8262

PR Contacts

United States

Kelley Dougherty

(973) 658-0237

Yonatan Beker

(973) 264 7378

Source: Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited

FAQ

What is the recent settlement amount Teva reached with West Virginia?

Teva has settled for $75 million over 15 years with an additional $8 million for attorney fees.

How much medicine will Teva provide as part of the settlement?

Teva will provide $27 million in the generic version of Narcan over 10 years.

Is Teva admitting liability in the West Virginia opioid settlement?

No, the settlement is not an admission of liability or wrongdoing by Teva.

What is Teva's ongoing strategy regarding opioid-related claims?

Teva continues to negotiate a national settlement addressing ongoing opioid-related litigation.