Cleveland, Ohio (CNN) Six drug companies accused in thousands of lawsuits over their role in the nation's opioid epidemic failed to reach a settlement with governments across the country, setting the stage for a high-profile trial Monday. The six defendants include three pharmaceutical distribution companies — AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health, and McKesson Corporation — a smaller distributor called Henry Schein Medical, generic drug company Teva Pharmaceuticals and pharmacy chain Walgreens, according to court documents. "The facts will show that opioid makers and distributors conspired to create and benefit from the worst public health crisis in decades." There were talks earlier this week with five companies settling for potentially settling for $50 billion , according to a source familiar with the negotiations. The companies proposed to pay a combined $18 billion over 18 years.

Source: CNN October 19, 2019 02:26 UTC