Biology Digest

NEW YORK, June 26 (Reuters) - Johnson & Johnson  (JNJ.N)  said on Saturday it will pay $263 million to resolve claims it fueled an opioid epidemic in New York state and two of its largest counties. The settlements remove the drugmaker from a jury trial scheduled to begin on Tuesday on Long Island, where several big opioid makers and distributors are also defendants. Johnson & Johnson did not admit liability or wrongdoing in settling with New York state, and with Nassau and Suffolk counties. The $229.9 million state settlement also calls for J&J to stop selling the painkillers nationwide. “The opioid epidemic has wreaked havoc" across the nation, New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement. "Johnson & Johnson helped fuel this fire." She said her focus remains "getting funds into communities devastated by opioids as quickly as possible." J&J said the settlements were consistent with its prior agreement to pay $5 billion to sett...

  GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Cannon Township has filed a lawsuit against one of the world’s largest consulting firms for “knowingly perpetuating the opioid crisis.’’ The federal lawsuit against McKinsey & Co. comes more than two months after Michigan and other states reached a $573 million settlement with McKinsey, which helped opioid companies promote their drugs. “McKinsey’s method of aggressive marketing of opioids to prescribers has demonstrably exacerbated the opioid crisis,’’ the lawsuit claims. “McKinsey continued consulting to increase the sale of opioids despite the nationwide epidemic.’’ Cannon Township is located in Kent County and bills itself as "one of Michigan's most scenic and enjoyable places to live and visit.'' Cannon Township Supervisor Steve Grimm declined comment, as did the attorney who filed the class action complaint.  Several cities and counties in the U.S. have filed similar action against McKinsey, alleging it worked with pharmaceutical manuf...

  A state court in Tennessee has punished Endo Pharmaceuticals for improperly withholding a vast trove of documents relating to the sale and marketing of its opioid medication Opana ER. The judge presiding over the civil trial also concluded the drugmaker and its attorneys made at least a dozen false statements during the pretrial fact-finding process. "It appears to the court that Endo and its attorneys, after delaying trial, have resorted to trying to improperly corrupt the record," wrote Chancellor E.G. Moody in a judgment issued on April 6. Endo denies wrongdoing. In a statement emailed to NPR the company said it will appeal the judgement. But Gerard Stranch, one of the attorneys suing the drugmaker on behalf of local governments in Tennessee, said Endo and its lawyers "conspired to hide the truth" over a period of years as the fact-finding phase of the trial proceeded. "[Endo's] lawyers crossed the line and worked with the company to subvert the court...