Drug Wholesalers Neglect to Flag Suspect Opioid Orders, Pay Millions in Settlement

(Summer 2017) Charged with claims that they did not submit questionable orders for opioids to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), two large drug wholesalers have agreed to pay millions of dollars to settle lawsuits against them. Such wholesalers play an important role in the drug supply chain, acting as intermediaries between pharmaceutical manufacturers and pharmacies. McKesson Corporation, the country’s top drug wholesaler, agreed to a $150 million fine at the beginning of the year. Meanwhile, Cardinal Health consented to a $44 million penalty in addition to an extra $20 million earmarked for West Virginia – one of the states that has been most affected by the opioid crisis.

A third distributor, AmerisourceBergen, will also award the drug-ridden Mountain State $16 million.

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