Viatris Statement on Nationwide Settlement to Resolve Opioid-Related Claims
Viatris (VTRS) has announced a nationwide settlement framework to resolve opioid-related claims by states, local governments, and Tribes. The settlement, which does not admit wrongdoing or liability, requires the company to pay up to $335 million over nine years, with annual payments ranging between $27.5 and $40 million.
The company had previously accounted for this potential settlement in its 2024 Form 10-K. Viatris, which has a minimal presence in the U.S. opioids market, manufactures generic versions of naloxone (overdose reversal drug) and buprenorphine/naloxone (opioid addiction treatment). The company is also developing a novel delivery system for meloxicam, a non-opioid pain medication.
Viatris (VTRS) ha annunciato un quadro di risoluzione a livello nazionale per risolvere le richieste di risarcimento legate agli oppioidi da parte di stati, governi locali e Tribù. La risoluzione, che non ammette colpe o responsabilità, richiede all'azienda di pagare fino a 335 milioni di dollari nell'arco di nove anni, con pagamenti annuali che variano tra 27,5 e 40 milioni di dollari.
L'azienda aveva già contabilizzato questo potenziale accordo nel suo modulo 10-K del 2024. Viatris, che ha una presenza minima nel mercato degli oppioidi negli Stati Uniti, produce versioni generiche di naloxone (farmaco per il recupero da overdose) e buprenorfina/naloxone (trattamento per la dipendenza da oppioidi). L'azienda sta anche sviluppando un nuovo sistema di somministrazione per il meloxicam, un farmaco antidolorifico non oppioide.
Viatris (VTRS) ha anunciado un marco de acuerdo a nivel nacional para resolver las reclamaciones relacionadas con opioides por parte de estados, gobiernos locales y tribus. El acuerdo, que no admite culpabilidad ni responsabilidad, requiere que la empresa pague hasta 335 millones de dólares durante nueve años, con pagos anuales que oscilan entre 27,5 y 40 millones de dólares.
La empresa ya había contabilizado este posible acuerdo en su formulario 10-K de 2024. Viatris, que tiene una presencia mínima en el mercado de opioides de EE. UU., fabrica versiones genéricas de naloxona (fármaco para la reversión de sobredosis) y buprenorfina/naloxona (tratamiento para la adicción a opioides). La empresa también está desarrollando un nuevo sistema de entrega para el meloxicam, un medicamento para el dolor no opioide.
비아트리스 (VTRS)는 주, 지방 정부 및 부족에 의해 제기된 오피오이드 관련 청구를 해결하기 위한 전국적인 합의 체계를 발표했습니다. 이 합의는 잘못이나 책임을 인정하지 않으며, 회사가 9년 동안 최대 3억 3천 5백만 달러를 지급하도록 요구하며, 연간 지급액은 2천 750만에서 4천만 달러 사이입니다.
회사는 2024년 10-K 양식에서 이 잠재적 합의를 이미 반영했습니다. 비아트리스는 미국 오피오이드 시장에서 최소한의 존재감을 가지고 있으며, 나록손(과다복용 역전 약물)과 부프레노르핀/나록손(오피오이드 중독 치료)의 제네릭 버전을 제조합니다. 회사는 또한 비오피오이드 진통제인 멜록시캄의 새로운 전달 시스템을 개발하고 있습니다.
Viatris (VTRS) a annoncé un cadre de règlement à l'échelle nationale pour résoudre les réclamations liées aux opioïdes formulées par les États, les gouvernements locaux et les tribus. Le règlement, qui n'admet ni faute ni responsabilité, exige que l'entreprise paie jusqu'à 335 millions de dollars sur une période de neuf ans, avec des paiements annuels variant entre 27,5 et 40 millions de dollars.
L'entreprise avait déjà pris en compte ce règlement potentiel dans son formulaire 10-K de 2024. Viatris, qui a une présence minimale sur le marché des opioïdes aux États-Unis, fabrique des versions génériques de naloxone (médicament pour inverser les overdoses) et de buprénorphine/naloxone (traitement de la dépendance aux opioïdes). L'entreprise développe également un nouveau système d'administration pour le méloxicam, un médicament antidouleur non opioïde.
Viatris (VTRS) hat einen landesweiten Rahmen zur Beilegung von opioidbezogenen Ansprüchen von Bundesstaaten, Kommunen und Stämmen angekündigt. Die Einigung, die kein Fehlverhalten oder Haftung eingesteht, verlangt von dem Unternehmen, über einen Zeitraum von neun Jahren bis zu 335 Millionen Dollar zu zahlen, wobei die jährlichen Zahlungen zwischen 27,5 und 40 Millionen Dollar liegen.
Das Unternehmen hatte diese potenzielle Einigung bereits in seinem 10-K-Formular für 2024 berücksichtigt. Viatris, das eine minimale Präsenz auf dem US-Opiatmarkt hat, stellt generische Versionen von Naloxon (Überdosisumkehrmittel) und Buprenorphin/Naloxon (Behandlung von Opioidabhängigkeit) her. Das Unternehmen entwickelt auch ein neuartiges Abgabesystem für Meloxicam, ein nicht-opioides Schmerzmittel.
- Settlement provides closure on opioid-related claims
- Settlement amount was already accounted for in 2024 financial statements
- Company maintains minimal exposure to U.S. opioids market
- Development of non-opioid pain medication alternative
- Settlement payment of up to $335 million over nine years
- Ongoing financial obligation of $27.5-40 million annually for nine years
Insights
Viatris's $335 million opioid settlement represents a significant liability resolution without introducing unexpected financial burden. The settlement's structure—spanning nine years with annual payments of
Critically, Viatris had already accrued for this anticipated settlement in their 2024 annual report, indicating the expense was forecasted and likely reflected in current valuation. This reduces the news's immediate financial impact while providing the substantial benefit of eliminating ongoing legal uncertainty and associated expenses.
The settlement's context is equally important—Viatris emphasizes its "very small" presence in the U.S. opioids market, suggesting this resolution is proportionally modest compared to major opioid manufacturers' settlements. By characterizing this as providing "closure" rather than admitting wrongdoing, the company maintains its positioning while capping its liability exposure.
From a strategic perspective, this settlement removes a significant distraction, allowing management to refocus on core operations and future growth initiatives. The company's manufacturing of naloxone and buprenorphine/naloxone products positions it as contributing to opioid crisis solutions rather than just paying for damages.
This resolution effectively eliminates a long-term liability overhang at a predictable cost that appears manageable given the company's scale and the extended payment timeline.
Under the agreed upon framework, depending on the level of participation in the settlement, the Company would pay up to a maximum of
The Company will also continue its longstanding role of working to identify solutions to address pressing public health challenges like those relating to opioids. For example, the Company manufactures a generic injectable version of the life-saving overdose reversal drug, naloxone, as well as a generic buprenorphine/naloxone product used for the treatment of opioid addiction. The Company is also developing a novel delivery for meloxicam, a non-opioid pain medication.
The settlement enables the Company to further focus on its mission of empowering people worldwide to live healthier at every stage of life, advance its efforts to address unmet patient needs through an expanded innovative portfolio and continue to serve approximately 1 billion patients annually with its diverse portfolio of medicines.
About Viatris
Viatris Inc. (Nasdaq: VTRS) is a global healthcare company uniquely positioned to bridge the traditional divide between generics and brands, combining the best of both to more holistically address healthcare needs globally. With a mission to empower people worldwide to live healthier at every stage of life, we provide access at scale, currently supplying high-quality medicines to approximately 1 billion patients around the world annually and touching all of life's moments, from birth to the end of life, acute conditions to chronic diseases. With our exceptionally extensive and diverse portfolio of medicines, a one-of-a-kind global supply chain designed to reach more people when and where they need them, and the scientific expertise to address some of the world's most enduring health challenges, access takes on deep meaning at Viatris. We are headquartered in the
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes statements that constitute "forward-looking statements." These statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements may include statements regarding the Company's nationwide settlement framework to resolve opioid-related claims by states, local governments, and Tribes against the Company and certain of its subsidiaries; under the agreed upon framework, depending on the level of participation in the settlement, the Company would pay up to a maximum of
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SOURCE Viatris Inc.
FAQ
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