(Bloomberg Opinion) -- The markets are sending a message to drugmakers facing opioid litigation: Settle up.
Johnson & Johnson late Tuesday announced its first legal settlement over the pharmaceutical giant's alleged role in spurring the opioid crisis, a modest $20 million deal with two Ohio counties. The agreement will see it avoid a risky trial later this month and the company's stock rose as much as 3.6% in early trading. J&J's deal came a day after a report that drugmakers may use Purdue Pharma's bankruptcy as a model for a broader settlement, news that briefly boosted smaller companies including Mallinckrodt PLC, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, and Endo International PLC.
The profusion of litigation, the size of the addiction crisis, and public fury have created a liability of unknown size that could take years to resolve. Thousands of lawsuits remain, and a global deal that resolves a big chunk of those suits will be challenging to negotiate. J&J's settlement cracks the door, however, and investors want resolution. Getting something done and moving on should be a priority for drugmakers over pinching pennies.
Banding together could help ensure that no drugmaker would be left behind to fight through every lawsuit or face a potential liability disproportionate to its relative role in the crisis. It won't be cheap, and it won't be easy, but it would be worth the effort.
A global settlement, even if it involves a substantial cash payout, would go a long way toward helping drugmakers move forward from the crisis, while investors would finally be able to put a number on the liability instead of fearing the uncertain result of every individual trial. A settlement also could reduce the risk of bankruptcy for indebted members of the group, cutting another asymmetric risk.
As for the other side, the parties affected by the crisis should fight aggressively for a large settlement. The amount of money needed to combat the crisis and build a real treatment infrastructure in America demands it. Beyond that, it's worth fighting for a figure large enough to deter the kind of behavior and negligence that allegedly spurred the crisis.
That doesn't mean they should disdain a global settlement and the idea of compromise. A broad deal may be governments' best avenue to get cash quickly so they can help people in need as soon as possible. Stretching the fight out may not result in a larger payout, and could result in some communities getting nothing.
We're still a long way from a significant deal; many states oppose even the single-company version of Purdue's bankruptcy. Hopefully, both sides will realize the benefits of avoiding a multi-year battle and make further progress.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Beth Williams at bewilliams@bloomberg.net
This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.
Max Nisen is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering biotech, pharma and health care. He previously wrote about management and corporate strategy for Quartz and Business Insider.
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