J&J, Teva must face opioid lawsuit, judge rules

Johnson & Johnson and Teva Pharmaceuticals lost a last-minute bid to escape an opioid lawsuit brought against them by the state of Oklahoma, according to Reuters.

The lawsuit, filed by Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter, accuses the drugmakers of fueling the opioid epidemic by misleading physicians and patients about the risks associated with opioid-based painkillers.

The lawyers representing the drugmakers attempted to argue that the state's public nuisance law didn't apply to sales of painkillers and that there was insufficient evidence that the companies helped cause the epidemic.

Cleveland County District Judge Thad Balkman, rejected the drugmakers' bid to throw out the case May 13.

The two companies will stand trial at the end of May.

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