AmerisourceBergen Corp. , Cardinal Health Inc. and McKesson Corp. said they agreed to proceed with a settlement of the majority of the opioid lawsuits filed by state and local governments in the U.S.
Under the agreement, AmerisourceBergen will pay up to $6.1 billion, Cardinal Health will pay up to $6 billion and McKesson will pay up to $7.4 billion over the course of 18 years. The proceeds will go toward thousands of communities across the U.S. that were affected by the abuse of the prescription painkillers.