Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc

Indivior has spent years and many millions of dollars in its defense against opioid-related allegations. Suboxone maker Indivior has spent years dealing with allegations related to its role in the United States opioid epidemic, inking several settlements over that span and even witnessing its former CEO land a six-month prison term.In the latest deal, the company agreed to a deal in principal to pay up to $86 million to participating states over five years.The settlement agreement stems from a joint effort by the attorneys general of New York, Illinois, Tennessee, Utah and Virginia, plus an executive committee consisting of AGs of California, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon and Vermont. If the deal goes through, Indivior’s $86 million will help fund opioid addiction treatment, recovery and prevention programs across the states. The states accused Indivior of failing to properly monitor and report inappropriate opioid orders, which went on to “fuel, rather than treat,” opioid addictions, California’s AG Rob Bonta said in a statement. Further, the company allegedly prioritized promotion efforts toward “dangerous prescribers,” including doctors who ran “pill mills,” New York’s attorney general Letitia James said in her release.“When companies like Indivior exploit those in the thralls of addiction for profit, their behavior must be stopped,” James said. “As a result of our work to hold Indivior accountable, they will end their destructive practices and provide new resources to invest in opioid addiction treatment, prevention, and education that will help save lives in New York.The drugmaker has been embroiled in a storm of opioid-related litigation for years related to accusations surrounding its opioid addiction therapy Suboxone. In 2020, Indivior closed out the federal government’s probe with a guilty plea and a $600 million settlement to be paid over seven years. That agreement followed the sentencing of former company CEO Shaun Thaxter, who pled guilty for his role in a scheme to maintain Medicaid formulary coverage for Suboxone by misleading officials about its dangers to children.Besides those cases, Indivior's former parent company Reckitt Benckiser inked a whopping $1.4 billion deal with federal authorities in 2019.Other than through monetary settlements, the Suboxone maker is now helping to combat opioid overdoses with Opvee, a nasal spray form of a decades-old treatment nalmefene hydrochloride. The spray was approved last year and can reverse the effects of overdoses if administered quickly. 

Lysol teams up with The GIANT Room to donate Lysol Minilabs Science Kits to Title I schools nationwide PARSIPPANY, N.J., July 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Lysol ®, a Reckitt brand, knows that little hands learn best when they're hands-on. That's why for year six of the brand's HERE for Healthy Schools initiative, Lysol is making hands-on learning accessible by donating Lysol Minilabs Science Kits to Title I schools. Since 2019, Lysol's HERE for Healthy Schools mission has been to help curb the spread of illness-causing germs in classrooms nationwide and promote a clean environment in school and at home through the use of Lysol® Disinfecting Wipes and Lysol® Disinfectant Spray. Continue Reading For year six of HERE for Healthy Schools, Lysol is donating Lysol Minilabs Science Kits, created in partnership with kids’ co-design lab The GIANT Room, to Title I classrooms nationwide. The Lysol Minilabs Science Kits were created in partnership with kids' co-design lab The GIANT Room using firsthand insights and learnings from teachers, students and Lysol scientists. The limited-time offering kits include bespoke educational materials, lesson plans and activities for teachers to use for the upcoming 2024 – 2025 school year. * Each of the three kits will feature a dedicated theme, such as Germs in the Classroom. "We believe the best learning experiences are those designed with students' and educators' points of view in mind. Even better are those created with children and teachers involved in the design process," said Dr. Azi Jamalian, founder of The GIANT Room. "Co-designed with teachers, children, and their families, Lysol Minilabs Science Kits help students better understand the 'why' behind healthy hygiene habits and 'how' they can change their behavior—all through engaging content children can relate to, hands-on activities and creations, home-school connections, reflections, and reinforcement." How You Can Receive a Lysol Minilabs Science Kit: Starting today, eligible teachers at Title I schools can visit , where they'll complete a form to request a Lysol Minilabs Science Kit for their classroom**. Those who are selected will receive the first of three kits starting in September, while supplies last. Each kit will include printed and hands-on materials for up to 30 students, along with lesson plans.† "Lysol remains steadfast in our mission to cultivate a clean environment for consumers and their families, whether in the classroom or at home," said Benoit Veryser, Vice President of US Marketing for Lysol at Reckitt. "We've taken our expertise in science and germ education, paired with The Giant Room's dedication to creativity, to introduce the Lysol Minilabs Science Kits, equipping teachers with educational tools and resources to help reduce the spread of illness-causing germs and help their students thrive with hands-on learning all year long." When used as directed, Lysol® Disinfecting Wipes and Lysol® Disinfectant Spray kill 99.9% of viruses and bacteria, including cold and flu and the COVID-19 virus, and can be used on many household and classroom surfaces like desktops, door handles, and countertops. To learn more about Lysol's HERE for Healthy Schools initiative, visit: or follow @lysol on Instagram and @lysolus on TikTok. *Actual contents may vary **While supplies last †Lysol Minilabs Science Kits do not include Lysol products About The Giant Room The GIANT Room is a creative kids' co-design lab that provides opportunities for families and educators to collaborate with designers, policymakers, scientists, artists, and engineers. Through these co-design partnerships, we support our partners to design products and experiences that are effective, engaging, and address true needs of families and schools. In addition, through The GIANT Remix platform, we provide opportunities for children to co-design and co-publish books and games they can share with their community. Founded by two women with PhDs in education and backgrounds in science and engineering, The GIANT Room has formed long-standing partnerships with the foremost educational and cultural institutions. About HERE For Healthy Schools Established in 2019, HERE for Healthy Schools launched with the mission of helping to curb the spread of illness-causing germs in classrooms nationwide. From the creation of interactive lesson plans and physical resources to donating millions of Lysol Disinfecting products, Lysol is committed to helping kids learn healthy habits and providing educators with the resources they need to keep their classrooms protected from germs. About Lysol For more than a century, Lysol has been protecting families from the spread of illness-causing germs. We believe there is nothing more important than keeping our loved ones safe and healthy. For Lysol, just as it is for parents, protection is an instinctive act of love: an unconditional combination of strength and heart. About Reckitt Reckitt†† exists to protect, heal, and nurture in the pursuit of a cleaner, healthier world. We believe that access to the highest-quality hygiene, wellness and nourishment is a right, not a privilege. Reckitt is the company behind some of the world's most recognizable and trusted consumer brands in hygiene, health, and nutrition, including Air Wick, Calgon, Cillit Bang, Clearasil, Dettol, Durex, Enfamil, Finish, Gaviscon, Harpic, Lysol, Mortein, Mucinex, Nurofen, Nutramigen, Strepsils, Vanish, Veet, Woolite and more. Every day, around 30 million Reckitt products are bought globally. We always put consumers and people first, seek out new opportunities, strive for excellence in all that we do and build shared success with all our partners. We aim to do the right thing, always. We are a diverse global team of c. 40,000 colleagues. We draw on our collective energy to meet our ambitions of purpose-led brands, a healthier planet, and a fairer society. Find out more or get in touch with us at . ††Reckitt is the trading name of the Reckitt Benckiser group of companies. SOURCE Lysol

Verdict could impact hundreds of additional lawsuits filed against Abbott and Enfamil formula maker Reckitt Benckiser ST. LOUIS, July 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A closely watched necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) baby formula bellwether trial culminated in a $495 million judgment Friday against Abbott Laboratories, a verdict that could affect many other lawsuits awaiting litigation in state and federal courts throughout the U.S. Continue Reading The case in the St. Louis trial, Gill v. Abbott Laboratories, No. 2322-CC01251, began July 9 before Judge Michael Noble in the 22nd Judicial Circuit Court of Missouri. The plaintiff brought the claim on behalf of her minor child, who developed NEC after being given Similac and/or Enfamil cow's milk-based products following her premature birth. The infant was forced to undergo extensive surgery and has continued to suffer long-term health consequences. A closely watched NEC baby formula trial culminated in a $495 million judgment against Abbott Laboratories. Post this The jury awarded the Gill family $400 million in punitive damages and $95 million in compensatory damages. The plaintiff and her child were represented by the law firms of Stranch, Jennings & Garvey PLLC (SJ&G) and TorHoerman Law. "The jury followed the evidence and made the right decision," says Hon. John (Jack) Garvey, founding member of SJ&G and co-lead counsel for the lawsuit. "I consider it a great honor to have brought some level of justice to the family." The lawsuit asserted that, "despite scientific consensus that defendants' cow's milk-based products present a dire threat to the health and development of preterm infants, defendants have made no changes to their products or the products' packaging, guidelines, instructions, or warnings. Instead, defendants have continued to sell their unreasonably dangerous products to unsuspecting parents and healthcare providers, generating huge profits as a result." The lawsuit also claimed the defendants breached their duty through misrepresentations made to consumers, physicians and medical staff in their advertising and promotional materials and interactions, and that Abbott's acts, omissions and/or representations showed a deliberate and flagrant disregard for the safety of others. "This is the sort of litigation that our firm takes pride in — where you need to commit massive resources to take on the most powerful bad actors," says J. Gerard Stranch IV, founding and managing member of SJ&G. In addition to Jack Garvey, SJ&G's trial team included Founding Member Mike Stewart and Member Janna Maples, along with associate attorneys Colleen Garvey, Ellen A. Thomas and Caleb Harbison. Hundreds of lawsuits still pending allege that cow's milk-based baby formula products can cause NEC, a life-threatening illness that can affect premature infants. In addition, the lawsuits claim that manufacturers of these products failed to warn of the higher risk of NEC in infants who were given their products versus infants who received breast milk or human milk-derived formula. Gill v. Abbott Laboratories marked the first NEC case brought against Abbott and was the second trial alleging that cow's milk-based baby formula given to premature infants can cause NEC. In the earlier case, Watson vs. Mead Johnson, an Illinois jury awarded $60 million to a plaintiff whose child died from NEC. For additional information about SJ&G, visit . About Stranch, Jennings & Garvey, PLLC: With practice experience dating back decades, Stranch, Jennings & Garvey, PLLC has a longstanding history of prominence in complex litigation. Our attorneys specialize in class action, mass tort, ERISA trust funds, labor unions, bank fees, data breaches, wage and hour disputes, worker adjustment and retraining notification, product liability, personal injury and trucking accidents. Known for their integrity, experience and dedication, our attorneys are members of numerous state and national associations, committees and boards. SOURCE Stranch, Jennings & Garvey