The inventor of Narcan, the nasal spray that can reverse an opioid overdose, said the decision by an Oklahoma judge to hold Johnson & Johnson responsible for fueling the state's opioid crisis is a major step in the nation's effort to combat the epidemic.
While the $570 million judgment was a fraction of the $17 billion requested by the state, Dr. Roger Crystal said that it illustrates "that the states are taking this crisis very seriously."
Narcan, which administers naloxone, blocks opioid receptor sites in a person's nervous system and can reverse the effects of an overdose — if administered quickly enough.
The nasal spray was first approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration in November 2015. Since then, the product has been used countless times to reverse overdoses from opioids, which include drugs such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine, and illegal fentanyl, among others.
<i>The opioid epidemic in 2017 by the numbers. Credit: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services</i>
Each dose costs roughly $37, which, Crystal said is "totally appropriate" for a drug that can save a life. Still, roughly 130 people die everyday from opioid overdoses, according to government estimates.
The Johnson & Johnson decision is a "recognition of a serious opioid crisis," Crystal said, adding that opioids have "been the biggest killer of young Americans."
Crystal added, however, that while opioid manufacturers have "significantly contributed" to the crisis, addressing the issue will require a broader restructuring of how painkillers are prescribed and how doctors approach pain management.
Monday's court ruling also coincides with International Overdose Awareness Day, which is observed every year on August 31.
On this episode of ChedHER: Ooshma Garg, CEO of Gobble and Sunbasket, breaks down how she found her entrepreneurial spirit, and gives advice for successfully scaling and growing a business; Chastity Lord, President and CEO of the Jeremiah Program, explains how she's disrupting the poverty cycle for single moms and their children; Dina Grilo, Vice President, DEI Lead for Office of Disability Inclusion at JPMorgan Chase & Co., explains how the firm is encouraging women with disabilities to seek office; Jess Berger, Founder and CEO of Bundle x Joy, talks about her $1 million seed raise that made her the first Latina in the pet care space to raise that amount.
Lawyers for Prince Harry have asked a judge to rule that a tabloid newspaper libeled the British royal with an article about his quest for police protection when he and his family visit the U.K.
