Johnson & Johnson settles with two Ohio counties
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. - Johnson & Johnson and its Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies agreed to a $10 million settlement with the Ohio counties of Cuyahoga and Summit. The settlement resolves all the counties’ claims with no admission of liability and removes the Company from the Federal trial scheduled to begin Oct. 21. Under the terms of the settlement, the company has also agreed to reimburse $5 million of the counties’ legal and other expenses incurred in preparation for the trial. Further, the company will direct $5.4 million of its charitable contributions to non-profit organizations in connection with opioid-related programs in these two counties.
The company recognizes the opioid crisis is a complex public health challenge and is working collaboratively to help communities and people in need. As previously stated, the company is open to identifying an appropriate, comprehensive resolution of the overall opioid litigation. The drugs Duragesic, Nucynta and Nucynta Er have accounted for less than one percent of total opioid prescriptions in the United States. The company sold the United States marketing rights for Nucynta in 2015 and has not marketed Duragesic in the United States since 2008.
–From staff reports
Health Department awards $2.1M to EMS agencies
OKLAHOMA CITY - In an effort to stabilize and improve Emergency Medical Services programs throughout the state, the state Department of Health has awarded more than $2.1 million to 20 agencies. Local agencies receiving funding are Southwest Oklahoma Ambulance Authority in Hollis, Tillman County EMS, and Jackson County EMS. “The purpose for this fund is to stabilize and improve EMS functions within the state,” said Dale Adkerson, Oklahoma Emergency Response Systems Stabilization and Improvement Revolving Fund contract manager. “These restricted tobacco taxes help fund many EMS programs servicing rural Oklahoma.” This is the 10th distribution for this fund. A total of 68 qualified entities have been awarded 164 contracts since the fund was established.
Other EMS programs receiving funding are: Woodward County EMS, Sinor EMS, Inc. (Clinton, Sayre, Hobart & Thomas), EMS Success, Inc. (Choctaw), City of Antlers Fire Department EMS, City of Pawnee Ambulance Service, Choc- taw County Ambulance Service, Major County EMS, Keyes EMS, Gordon Cooper Technology Center in Shawnee, Heartland Medical Direction, Inc. in Crescent, Bryan County EMS, Johnston County EMS, Elmore City EMS, Marshall County EMS, Tonkawa Fire Department EMS, Newkirk Fire Department EMS and McClain Grady EMS.
–From staff reports